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AND THEN…

Quil beamed charmingly at Lucy, flashing the younger mage her wolfish teeth. Quil blinked, suddenly feeling drained and dizzy. She gave her head a brisk shake, maybe losing control and Shifting wasn't the best idea for her health right now. But this didn't feel like magical depletion. She had been fighting that off for a few days now, but this sudden strange feeling felt different. Quil was sure she could hold out against whatever this was, at least until she made it to the comfortable bed she shared with Mira.

Quil blinked again, blinking against the sudden sheen of cold sweat prickling at her eyes. She stumbled, still fighting against the overwhelming dizziness that washed over her. Quil gritted her teeth determined to stay on her feet as Lucy's pretty and somehow familiar face swam vaguely in front of her, eyes shining with worry.

'Lucy?' Quil uttered breathlessly, 'that's a pret- pretty name,' her vision was starting to blur in and out of focus and her legs were turning to jelly. Quil groaned, rebelling against her body's need to pass out. She fumbled blindly behind her, searching for the comforting anchor that was MiraJane. Her fingers brushed against Mira's soft skin and she staggered back a few paces. Damn it!

Her stomach churned sickeningly.

'Mira,' Quil croaked as the world around her began to spin at a nauseating speed, 'I- I think I'm gonna…'

'Quick!' Lucy cried lurching forward to grab Quil's still outstretched hand but Quil's fingers slipped through Lucy's grasp, 'she's gonna faint!'

Quil keeled backwards, completely unconscious. Her mis-matched eyes blank and staring. Erza's boots skidded across the ground as she spun to catch Quil before she hit the floor, drawing her up bridal style.

'Quil!' Exclaimed MiraJane as she clamoured around Erza. Lucy took hold of her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Smiling at her friend Mira placed the back of her pale hand against Quil's flushed forehead and exhaled a small sigh of relief.

'What's wrong with her, Mira?' Shouted Natsu shoving Lucy out of the way to get a better look at the unconscious wizard in Erza's arms. Lucy yelped as she landed heavily on her injured leg, it had stopped bleeding now, she wondered if it had been the stones on the beach or the edges of Erza's armour that had caused it. Everything had happened so fast that she didn't really know.

Natsu gazed fearfully down at his friend. Quil's expression looked pained, her teeth gritted against whatever was going through her head. Quil had been at the guild longer than he had and she had always been strong. As strong as Erza. He had never seen her so wiped out before. His fists shook in frustration, Quil looked so helpless and fragile lying in Erza's arms like that.

It was scary. Natsu didn't like being scared.

'No fever, that's good,' MiraJane mumbled to herself, it was as if she hadn't heard Natsu's panicked question at all. Lucy watched her friend gaze at her unconscious lover as her head lolled against Erza's breastplate. Mira's eyes softened and her smile was warm and loving. Lucy had never seen MiraJane look at anybody with the same intense love as she did with Quil.

Quil the Wolf had occasionally been in the centrefold of Sorcerer Weekly, clad in tomboyish swimming outfits of an unzipped hoodie over purple bikinis, along with a set of wolf ears and tail. But they were just as rare as Natsu being smart. Quil the Wolf was an elusive wizard to say the least. She was always away on jobs and never stayed at the guild for too long.

That was probably why Lucy had completely forgotten about her.

'She's gonna be OK though, right?' Gray asked, he had finally put his clothes back on. He was looking over Natsu's shoulder with a mixed expression of mild concern and disinterest. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped away as though not wanting to crowd Quil.

Lucy frowned, everyone was acting so strangely today.

Erza chuckled and glanced down at Quil, 'she'll be fine. Give her a few hours and she'll be right as rain. That transformation probably took the last of her magical energy.'

Lucy wandered closer but was hesitant to get too close, she didn't want to intrude.

'She looks exhausted,' Lucy whispered unable to help the worried lilt in her voice.

'Yes,' replied MiraJane smiling softly, 'she probably is. The job she took wasn't an easy one. It was in the Waas Forest, north of Fiore.'

'Waas?' Lucy repeated, stunned.

Erza shifted Quil in her arms, the wolf-girl was heavier than she looked, 'is there a safe place we can put her? Maybe Fairy Hills?'

MiraJane glanced over her shoulder to the entrance gate to the girls dormitory a little way down the promenade and frowned, thinking. Putting Quil to bed in her own home would probably be the better solution but she knew Quil would want to speak to the master as soon as she woke up. Mira bit her lip and shook her head.

'No, we'll take her inside with us.' MiraJane said, 'I'm sure Quil will want to speak with the master.'

Erza nodded, 'that's fine. I, too, would like to find out exactly what happened whilst we were on Galuna.'

MiraJane nodded and waved them into the ruined guildhall. Team Natsu followed Mira inside in silence gazing around in a new state of shock. Erza almost dropped Quil in astonishment.

The guild was a total wreck, the large pillars of black steel had been thrust through every wall and window of the building. Rubble and wooden structures had been thrown all over the place. Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray and Happy felt as if their hearts had shattered as they looked around at the destroyed guild hall. There's nothing left, Lucy thought in despair as more tears trickled down her red raw cheeks. The large roof supports had been pulled down to the ground floor, leaving gaping holes in the roof. It was completely deserted, void of any life. There weren't even any birds or wildlife scavenging for food that was barely visible under the ruins of the bar. Shattered bottles, smashed tankards and splintered stools littered the ruins of the bar. It was soulless, it was as if a dark invisible cloud was hovering over what was left of the guild hall that deterred any form of life, human or otherwise. For once, Lucy did not feel welcome as she stepped over the obliterated threshold.

Lucy bit her cheek in fear. Where was everyone? Where was everyone supposed to gather now? How were they supposed to get jobs? Lucy's heart jolted in her chest, what about her rent! She glanced around and up to the sky, a frightened chill ran up Lucy's spine and she shivered. Her skin crawled uneasily. In front of her, Quil's legs bobbed in Erza's arms as Erza moved forward a few paced into the middle of the cracked floor. It was unnerving to Lucy to see such an apparently strong wizard completely out-cold. It gave Lucy a foreboding feeling that gnawed at the pit of her stomach.

Mira turned and disappeared around the back of the bar ruins.

'This way,' MiraJane said, her voice sounded sad and far away. Round the back of the bar, rubble from the ceiling had been cleared away and the heavy trapdoor that led down into the booze cellar had been left open. Mira stopped, her feet teetering on the edge, tears were yet again streaming down her pink tear stained cheeks.

'We were lucky, really. Whoever it was attacked during the night the night before last when no one was around. I was on the beach at the time. I heard it happen, but the attack was so quick that by the time I made it back to the guild it was all gone.' Mira's voice broke and she crumpled to her knees hiding her face in her hands.

'I hate feeling so useless. I couldn't do a thing to help. I can't even protect my family, I couldn't stop them destroying the guild. I hate being so useless.' Mira wept, her slender shoulders trembled with every fresh wave of tears that wracked her body.

'Oh, Mira,' hushed Lucy wincing in pain as she crouched down beside the white-haired mage, she could feel the gash on her thigh peel itself open and blood begin to ooze across her skin again. Ignoring her own pain Lucy rubbed soothing circles along Mira's back, she could feel the tension coiled in Mira's muscles as she sobbed loudly, 'you are strong. There are lots of other ways to be strong. You keep up everyone's morale and you look after everybody. Everyone can't wait to get home from a job and hear your voice, asking us how it went and if we're alright. You make sure we're all fed and watered. Mira, you give everyone in Fairy Tail hope.' Lucy looked pleadingly over her shoulder at Erza as Mira quivered beside her as she tried to stifle her sobs.

'Only you can keep this one in check,' Erza said in a soft tone as she gestured with Quil, a blush as dark as her hair blazed across her cheeks, 'and everyone loves your baking.'

'Yeah, don't worry about it, Mira,' said Natsu flashing her one of his signature goofy grins.

'Aye,' said Happy raising a hand as he floated to the left of Natsu's head.

'We have other people who can fight, you don't need to worry about doing that,' said Gray looking a little disgruntled as an embarrassed blush flushed lightly across his cheeks.

MiraJane's smile wobbled and Lucy helped her to her feet who grimaced against the stinging from her leg. Mira pulled Lucy into a hug and said, 'you're right. Of course you are. Thank you guys.'

Mira glanced down and gasped when she saw Lucy wince, 'Lucy! What happened to your leg!'

'Um, I think it happened when Erza and I fell, but it's OK, it doesn't really hurt,' Lucy lied feebly, biting back a hiss as her leg throbbed again.

Mira glared at her friend and waggled a finger in her face, Lucy flushed and felt as though she was being berated by a mother, 'that's a lie, Lucy. There's first aid supplies in the cellar. I'll patch you up before it gets infected. It looks pretty deep.'

Lucy flapped a hand at Mira forcing a smile, 'I'm sure it'll be fine.'

'No,' MiraJane said sharply frowning at her blonde friend, 'I'm sure Reedus will know where it is.'

Mira sniffed and delicately wiping her tears away, she led the way down the uneven wooden steps into the significantly darker cellar of the Fairy Tail guild. It was half the size of the ground floor of the guild but could still hold the whole of the guild, just about. It smelled musty and mouldy and the stench of stale alcohol was stifling. Lucy wrinkled her nose as they descended into the familiar hubbub and ruckus of the guild. An acrid smell stung at Lucy's nose, she pinched it at the bridge and she instantly recognised it as the smoke from Wakaba's Woodstock pipe. A strange pink smoke wafted up the stairs and circled around them. She could hear the raised voices of Wakaba and Macao debating whether ladies found Wakaba's smoke alluring or not. Lucy couldn't help but giggle. That was what Lucy loved about her guild, no matter what kind of hardship they endured they always managed to come through smiling and laughing.

'I'm back, Master,' announced MiraJane in a sing-song voice, 'and I found some people wandering outside.' MiraJane stepped aside so Lucy, Natsu, Happy, Gray and Erza carrying Quil could step down into the cellar. The room immediately hushed and a murmur trickled around the room. The air thickened with trepidation. Everyone was staring at the unconscious girl in Erza's arms.

'Is that-?' Nab began but didn't continue.

'No way,' Cana gasped.

''It's good to see you,' said the Master slamming his half empty tankard of mead on the bench beside him where he sat cross-legged. He glared death at Team Natsu. His cheeks, hidden by his large moustache, were painted a drunk red, 'I hope you managed to fix whatever blunders these idiots managed to create, Erza.' His beady eyed glare narrowed when he saw the unconscious girl in Erza's arms, 'is that Quil you've got there Erza? When did she get back?'

'Just now, Master, not long after we did.' Erza replied glancing down at her friend, 'I think she heard about what happened and freaked out, using the last of her magical energy to shift and she passed out.'

Master Makarov yelped and toppled out of sight.

'She did WHAT?' He cried pulling himself back up and retrieving his refilled tankard from Cana.

'Please, Master,' MiraJane begged stepping in front of Erza and Quil, her large blue eyes were shining as yet more tears coursed down her cheeks, 'she was just concerned for me, for us. She heard what happened, I'm sure she felt guilty for leaving us, for leaving me,' Mira added in a barely audible murmur.

Makarov hummed deep in thought as his hard gaze settled on MiraJane's necklace, she's removed the make-up, he thought. He sighed and chugged his mead, smacking his lips appreciatively when he had drained every last drop. It was such a pain to have a lycanthrope sometimes.

'I'm sure to have words with her when she comes round,' he said gruffly and Mira nodded understandingly, 'she knows what could happen when she Shifts. Set her down over there, when she comes round you can take her home, Mira.'

Mira nodded again, clutching her hands to her chest, and followed Erza in an almost defeated silence as Erza set Quil gently on the ground between a large barrel of ale and crate of potatoes. Mira sunk to her knees and stroked Quil's face lovingly, whispering a lullaby that Lucy vaguely recognised. Lucy watched in a stunned silence. She knew MiraJane to be a gentle soul but there was something about the way Mira was gazing at Quil that moved Lucy. Mira traced a thumb delicately from Quil's eye, over her guild mark and down her cheek to her chin. Lucy knelt down beside her friend smiling warmly at her.

MiraJane sighed deeply and turned her gaze to Lucy, smiling kindly. She placed a hand on Lucy's arm and gracefully rose to her feet and elegantly glided through the guild until she found Reedus sitting at the back of the cellar, clutching a tankard in one hand and his trusty paintbrush in the other. As Mira peered over his shoulder she saw he had sketched pictures of Erza holding Quil with MiraJane standing diligently at their side.

'Hello Reedus,' MiraJane greeted smiling widely at the picto-magic mage, 'you wouldn't happen to know where the first aid kit is would you?'

'Non,' he said turning in his seat and brandishing his brush, 'but if you will allow me, I may draw you one.'

'Of course, thank you Reedus,' smiled Mira and waited patiently as Reedus painted a fully stocked medical kit. The little bag was blue with a chibi Makarov showing them the peace sign on the front. His magic circle lit up the dim room with such a bright flash that Mira had to cover her eyes.

'Here, Mira,' came Reedus' voice through the darkness behind Mira's eyes. All she could see was white splotches, she opened her eyes and had to blink a few times to unblur her vision. Reedus had turned on his chair watching her with mild curious concern as he held out the now fully materialised medical kit.

'Thank you, Reedus,' Mira repeated and made her way back to Lucy who was staring oddly at Quil.

'Can you stand Lucy?' Mira asked when she came to stop beside her friend, holding out the medical kit so Lucy could see it. Lucy nodded, staring at the kit and rose awkwardly to her feet. She allowed Mira to steer her to sit on the crate and she knelt beside Lucy so to have easier access to Lucy's thigh. Lucy felt her face heat so much that she was surprised that she wasn't lighting up the entire cellar, the heat rush down her neck and up to her ears. Lucy didn't normally mind being so close to her female friends, she'd had plenty of sleep-overs with her aristocratic friends when she still lived with her father; but the way Mira's soft breath fluttered across the sensitive skin of her injured thigh sent unexplainable butterflies flitting aggressively around her stomach. As she watched MiraJane prepare the items needed to patch up her leg, Lucy could only wonder what had caused such a reaction. Could it just be because her leg is sore and her body was reacting to it being disturbed. It wasn't like she was suddenly seeing Mira in a romantic light, she was obviously in a very serious and committed relationship.

Lucy forced a heavy whoosh of air from her nose and Mira glanced up, hands hovering millimetres from Lucy's wound. She was holding a clean rag that had been dipped in a foul smelling yellow liquid.

'Did I hurt you?' Mira asked.

'What?' Lucy replied, her brows dipped in confusion, 'no. Why would you- ow!' Lucy yelped and hissed in pain as Mira began gently began cleaning her wound.

'Fuck,' Lucy groaned clenching her eyes shut and her hands into fists, her nails digging into the wood of the crate, 'yeah, that hurts!'

Mira smiled apologetically, 'sorry. But I have to clean it before I can bandage it.'

Lucy grimaced through her smile and waved casually at Mira, 'no, it's fine. I get it, it just reeally stings.' Mira giggled and paused for a moment as if waiting for Lucy to stop her before she carried on.

Lucy braced herself and hissed against the stinging pain, it felt as though Mira was wiping acid across her wound. Biting back a pained moan, Lucy allowed her mind to wander. She surprised herself when her thoughts landed on Erza. Lucy could feel Mira gently holding her leg still as she trembled involuntarily as the cloth dragged across her leg. Mira's grasp was paper soft and Lucy found her mind wandering back to how Erza had been treating her the last week or so. She, herself, had begun noticing it after she had been injured by her battle with Sherry. Erza at the time hadn't realised Lucy had been hurt when she tied her up to stop her running back into the fray of the mission. Upon noticing Lucy was covered in dark purple and black bruises and dozens of gashes all over her body, Erza had released her and apologised profusely for not being mindful of Lucy's post-battle health.

But now that Lucy thought about it. She had noticed Erza had been acting oddly around her ever since then and even just before they snuck away on the S-Class quest. At the time she thought that Erza had been watching her out of curiosity, apparently she had been the newest guild member in a few years. But that hadn't explained why Erza looked away whenever she noticed Lucy had spotted her. She had spotted Erza lurking in the shadows of the guild ages before she ever came up to speak to Lucy, she had always assumed that she was observing Natsu and Gray to ensure they didn't cause too much trouble.

But Erza's actions today was beginning to make Lucy wonder. Why had Erza been so protective? At first she had thought it was a realistic reaction to Quil's transformation. Lucy had been the only one in the guild to be completely clueless about the wolf-girl. She had never seen nor dealt with a cursed wolf or any kind of wolf for that matter. Erza had simply been protecting the weakest member of the team, right? Lucy brushed the thought aside, of course that's what it was. They were tired from her mission and the shock of seeing the guild in ruins plus Quil's dramatic reunion had probably pushed Erza to be more aware of Lucy for her own safety. Lucy wasn't even sure that Erza liked girls in the first place, shit, she wasn't even sure she herself liked girls. Sure they were much more considerate and attentive than men, but could she really see herself with a woman let alone Erza Scarlet.

Lucy blanched, was she seriously considering her sexuality right now?! Lucy watched as Mira delicately wrapped her leg with gauze, she too looked as though she was far away in her own thoughts.

Lucy shook her head ridding her reeling mind of the odd and confusing thoughts swirling in there. She groaned, she could really do with a drink, fuck being a minor. If she could fight monsters and put her life on the line on a regular basis then she could damned well have a drink!

'All done,' Mira said in a chirpy tone and wobbled to her feet, and Lucy realised that crouching down couldn't have been too comfortable for the delicate white-haired mage. Mira was holding her stomach again, maybe she wasn't feeling too well today, Lucy thought.

'Thanks, Mira,' Lucy mumbled with a groan, her head was beginning to pound in retaliation for the sudden burst of confusing swirling thoughts.

'Headache?' Mira asked disappearing behind the makeshift bar in the corner near where they sat and began pouring Lucy a drink. Lucy watched in fascination as Mira sprinkled some strangely colored leaves into a small kettle and poured some water from a jug on the counter. She pulled on Natsu's hand who had been standing by the bar arguing with Gray about Phantom Lord and set his flaming hand under the kettle to boil it instantly.

Natsu turned to see what his hand was doing but simply grinned and turned back to yell insults at Gray. Mira let his hand go and poured the hot contents into a glass and added some large ice cubes that hissed and spewed steam over the lip but they didn't melt. Mira handed the drink to Lucy who took it hesitantly and glanced at it. In her peripheral, MiraJane made her way back round the bar to kneel beside Quil's head again.

Lucy sniffed at her drink, it had a strange pungent smell. It smelled sour yet sweet and spicy, it almost smelled like toffee, apple spice and lime. She tentatively took a sip and allowed a repulsive taste to wash over her tongue. She coughed and spluttered, doubling over as the taste assaulted her mouth and nose.

'It's not a very nice drink despite how it smells,' Lucy just about heard MiraJane's soft voice over her coughing and choking, 'but it'll heal your headache straight away.'

Lucy turned to face her friend, her eyes streaming and stinging, 'thanks for the heads up, Mira.' Lucy wheezed.

Chuckling, Mira turned her attention back to Quil. Lucy wrinkled her nose against the deceptively delicious smelling drink and steeling herself she drained the glass, gagging at the final mouthful. It tasted worse than consuming all of the medicine she had taken in her life all at once. Some of the guild members laughed at Lucy's reaction but she ignored them. Only a dark blush across her cheeks told anyone that she had heard them. She turned, swishing her loose hair dramatically over her shoulder and lowered herself gingerly onto the floor beside Mira.

Lucy watched MiraJane gently move the wolf-girl so she could take her jacket off and place it, folded neatly, on the crate Lucy had just vacated. Quil's beautifully tanned skin had a thin sheen of sweat, Lucy watched a bead trickle down her forehead and fall into the crevice of a scar in her right eyebrow and she found herself wondering how she could have received that. She had never seen a scar on Natsu in the month she had been working with him, she had just assumed his Dragon Slayer abilities healed him. Her dark purple hair had been pulled into a messy side ponytail but the right side had been shaved away as an undercut which also had the guild's mark shaved into it. Quil must really be a proud member, Lucy thought in interest, she glanced momentarily over her shoulder at the rest of the guild, but then again, everyone in Fairy Tail was a proud member. Lucy grinned.

The girls clothes, black military boots lined with purple metal studs along the laces, black ripped jeans and a black hoodie that Mira was unzipping to reveal a simple white vest top looked very dusty, dirty and travel worn. There was no way Mira was serious that Quil had walked to the mountains near the Waas Forest and back again, all with doing her mission. Even Natsu didn't hate trains that much. Quil winced in her sleep and her head lolled to the side, showing off her left ear-cuff. It was silver and beautifully engraved with dancing fairies. They looked similar to the wooden fairy carvings that used to live above the main entrance to the guild.

Lucy caught herself just before she could run a gentle finger along the cuff, flushing in embarrassment when Mira smiled at her.

'They're very pretty, Mira.' Lucy said softly.

Mira smiled, 'thank you. They were for her birthday on the fifth.'

Lucy's eyebrows flew into her bangs, 'of July?'

MiraJane nodded, 'yes. I knew she would be away for her birthday so I gave them to her before she left four weeks ago. Actually,' Mira put a finger to her lower lip in thought, 'she left for her job the day you met Natsu and Happy in Hargeon. Isn't that a funny coincidence?'

Lucy laughed, 'yeah, I guess that is. Natsu, Happy and I didn't make it back here until the day after.' She looked back at the ear cuffs, in the flickering light of the torches on the walls, the fairies actually looked like they were dancing.

'She's proud to be a Fairy Tail wizard, huh?'

MiraJane grinned widely at her, 'yes. She can't remember her real family so she filled that void with Fairy Tail. She would do anything to protect us.' Mira said gently, caressing her dress absentmindedly again.

'Is that why you had fairies engraved into her ear-cuffs?' Lucy asked, pointing to Quil's ear.

'It's one reason,' said Mira resting a hand against her cheek.

'What's the other?' Lucy asked.

'Have you heard the story of how the guild got its name?'

Lucy shook her head and shuffled closer to Mira, 'well, our founder, Mavis Vermillion, was said to be a fairy. But whether that's true or not no one knows, but she was obsessed with trying finding them. It's said she wanted to find a fairy to see whether the stories about them having tails were true or not.'

Lucy was surprised. She hadn't realised Fairy Tail had such a myth incorporated into its origins. But real fairies? She found that hard to believe, her hands clenched on her lap and she looked at Quil. She looked more like an elf than a wolf or fairy. Lucy quirked an eyebrow, that couldn't be her real appearance could it? Lucy had never met anyone with ears shaped like that, sure she had met people with such a nice tan, but pointy ears?

'Fairies, huh?' Lucy murmured, 'Quil doesn't look the type to believe in such fantasy.'

MiraJane giggled, hiding her mouth behind a fist, 'she may look like a bit of an idiot but she really loves to read. It was the only habit she remembers from her real family. The spare room in our apartment is filled floor to ceiling with books she's been given or bought over the years she's been here.'

'Wow,' gasped Lucy, 'so, what's her story, Mira? Did she really walk to the Waas Forest?'

Mira giggled again and nodded, 'well, Quil suffers from motion sickness, you see.'

'Like Natsu?' Lucy said in surprise.

MiraJane nodded, 'yep, just like Natsu. She's an Ice Dragon Slayer. We're not sure if her motion sickness is because of her Slayer magic or if it's just a personal problem though. The only Dragon Slayer we have to go on is Natsu, but she doesn't use any form of transport at all. Unless she teams with Erza, then she has no choice.'

Lucy glanced over to the red-headed wizard who was arguing with the Master and Natsu, 'I understand your position, Master, but Phantom Lord cannot be allowed to get away with this!' Erza was yelling, her voice boomed across the quiet hubbub of the guild.

Natsu clenched his fists, setting them on fire, 'yeah Gramps, c'mon, let's go pay their guild a visit. Rough 'em up a bit!'

'We cannot!' Cried the Master waving his tankard around angrily and slopping mead all over his lap, 'we are forbidden by the Magic Council!'

'What's their deal?' Lucy asked, watching Erza put her arm around Natsu's neck, strangling him into silence before he could slam his fist into the wall, 'one moment they're at each other's throats and the next minute it's like they really care about each other.'

'I guess you could liken them to Natsu and Gray. You see, ever since they both joined the guild eight years ago they've been fighting for my affection,' MiraJane's cheeks blazed a dark red, 'things happened and Quil won the rivalry three years ago.'

'What happened?'

MiraJane frowned and momentarily turned her gaze from Lucy. The Celestial mage wondered if there was something Mira was trying not to tell her. Mira sighed resolutely.

'Well, I don't know all the details, but apparently ten years ago, before she met the dragon that taught her Dragon Slayer magic, she was cursed. To transform into a wolf whenever her negative emotions get out of control. She doesn't know who cursed her, but I think she wants to forget it ever happened. For the most part, Quil manages to control the curse but there are times, like today, when all her negative emotions just build up inside her and it consumes her. I think hearing about the guild tipped her over the edge and she lost control.'

MiraJane's eyes were welling with tears again. Lucy gazed at Quil. Her face looked so serene and peaceful that she couldn't believe such an expression could appear on a girl with so much turmoil and strife in her past. Lucy wondered who could curse a ten year old child into a lycanthrope.

Lucy had read all about them before she had left her fathers' mansion, lycanthrope's were even rarer than regular wolves, dragons or dragon slayers. They were usually slaughtered for their unpredictable nature, so to find one who not only survived into her very early twenties but who was also a full blown wizard that had been accepted into society. It was impossible. Yet, as Lucy looked at the girls face, she could see a hint of the wolf inside her even in her human form. In the way her nose twitched every now and then that corresponded with MiraJane's movements to brush Quil's bangs from her face and her pointed almost elf-ish ears. It certainly explained why Quil's magical aura was so jumbled and hectic, what with her dragon slayer magic, the wolf magic and the curse all swirling inside her.

'So, what happened for Quil to win your heart? I mean, Erza's more than a little intimidating and she certainly doesn't like to lose.' Lucy said, eager to hear more about one of the most mysterious wizards if Fairy Tail.

'Well,' MiraJane's dark blush deepened and she stammered, 'l- lycanthrope's, like wolves, eventually go through something called Imprinting. It's a thing they go through due to their wolf blood. It's the act of finding their Mate, or rather, their soul mate. A Mate is a bit different to a boyfriend or girlfriend. Humans and lycanthropes can have as many of them as they want, but a Mate is a once in a lifetime deal.'

Lucy frowned and leaned even closer to MiraJane, Natsu was now spitting fire angrily as Master Makarov smashed him into the ground with a large fist, 'what d'you mean a 'lifetime deal'?'

'Imprinting can happen at any point with anyone and both parties feel it. It feels as though the earth and gravity moves in separate directions. Your Mate is the most important thing in your life. Gravity isn't what's keeping you to the earth, she or he does. We can sense where our Mates are, no matter how far they go.' MiraJane looked to Quil and smiled lovingly, 'Nothing matters more than her.'

'Wow,' whispered Lucy, letting out a long gust of air, 'is that why you're wearing that necklace? Because you knew she was coming home?'

MiraJane bobbed her head from side to side, contemplating Lucy's question, 'yes and no.'

MiraJane pulled aside the necklace from the right side of her neck and Lucy gasped so loud in shock that MiraJane had to clamp a hand over her mouth. There was a dark bite mark on the slope between MiraJane's neck and shoulder. It looked vicious, wolf fangs the size of human teeth and was a deep dark red, like a fresh scar.

'What is it!' Lucy cried in a hushed toned as she turned to see if anyone was listening in, particularly Erza, 'you haven't had that the whole time I've been here!'

MiraJane smiled shyly, 'well, actually, I have. I tend to cover it with make-up until she comes home if she's away. It's called Marking. Lycanthropes carry out Marking once they've found their Mate, it's a way to tell others that their Mate is theirs. It normally happens when they consummate their Imprinting. It acts as a warning, as Quil puts it, she's mine, back off.'

This time it was Lucy's turn to blush darkly as she realised what Mira was getting at.

'It only becomes visible to the naked eye during Mating season,' MiraJane giggled at Lucy's flabbergast expression, 'don't worry. It's coming to an end. It only lasts one month every year, it should be gone by tomorrow.' There was a strange twinkle in her eye as she stroked the fabric of her dress again.

There was a sudden metallic clinking between MiraJane and Lucy, making the blonde jump in surprise as Erza's hand appeared between them holding a perfectly folded handkerchief.

'Here, Mira, for her head.' Erza said offering the handkerchief to the white-haired mage who smiled gratefully and placed it over Quil's forehead.

'Thank you Erza,' said Mira smiling at the Requip mage.

Erza's eyes turned a little steely as she gazed at MiraJane, 'how long until it disappears?'

'Hmm? Oh, should be tonight.' Mira said distractedly. Erza exhaled strongly through her nose and straightened up, leaving to join Natsu and Gray who were deep in conversation. Mira sighed.

'She always gets like this during Mating season. I think she hates it. Which I understand, having to give up on those feelings can't be easy but I just wish she could move on and find someone else rather than tormenting herself over me.' Mira's eyes shone again. Lucy watched as Erza threw herself on the bench next to Natsu and slammed his head against the table to stop him from jumping across the table at Gray.

'I'm sure she will,' Lucy said softly, 'maybe she just needs a little more time. I mean, I've only known Erza for a month, but she seems the type to take a while to realise her feelings and let people in. Maybe she just needs time to sort through it all and readjust?'

Mira tittered, hiding her mouth behind her hand again, 'I hope you're right.'

'I'm sure she's moved on,' groaned a voice beside them, 'she just doesn't know it yet.'

MiraJane and Lucy spun to see Quil groggily propping herself up on her elbows. She looked tired and confused, her eyes looked heavy. As she sat up a little more the handkerchief fell onto her lap, she picked it up and inspected it. A deep red E.S. had been stitched into a corner and her brow furrowed.

'Erza?' Quil muttered under her breath, she lifted her gaze and caught the eyes of the Requip mage from across the cellar. They held their gaze, as if it were a silent battle of wills until Erza huffed angrily and looked away stuffing a forkful of strawberry cake into her mouth.

'Quil!' Squealed Mira and flung her arms around the Dragon Slayers neck and pulled her close.

'What d'you mean "she's moved on but doesn't know it"?' Lucy asked. Quil regarded her for a moment. Lucy felt strangely exposed as Quil's mismatched eyes stared at her as though she could see right into her soul. Like an x-ray lacrima. Lucy gulped. Quil seemed to be wondering whether she should tell Lucy what she was thinking. Quil pursed her lips and grinned mischievously.

'Ah, I'm sure people'll find out soon. Whoever it is, she totally has the hots for,' Quil's grin widened and she flashed her wolfish teeth again.

Lucy was stunned, 'how do you know that? We've been back at the guild for two hours now and you've been out cold for most of that.'

Quil gave a barking laugh, lifting her head back so she didn't hit her chin on Mira's head, 'wolfs intuition.' She said tapping the side of her nose. Mira had shifted in Quil's grasp to sit on her lap and was refusing to release Quil from her grip.

Lucy pursed her lips. Quil was most definitely the strangest wizard she had ever met, and that was saying something as she had already met complete weirdo's like Natsu, Erza and Gray. But there was something about the way she seemed to know everything. Could it be to do with her magic? Lucy frowned, she was starting to get a headache again, if it were her magic then wouldn't Natsu be just as intuitive? Yet Natsu was a complete idiot.

'You're wondering how I seem to know everything aren't you?' Lucy started, she hadn't realised Quil had been watching her. As she looked up there was a strange expression on Quil's face but as soon as their eyes met the expression was gone to be replaced with an arrogant smirk.

'Uh um, well, yeah. I guess,' replied Lucy, squirming awkwardly under Quil's piercing gaze.

'I'm a wolf right?' Quil asked, shifting her hand down to support MiraJane on her lower back.

Lucy nodded, 'right?'

'Well, all of my senses have improved tenfold since I was cursed. I can see better, taste better… smell better. Way better than Natsu's sense of smell. I can smell every hormone and scent good or bad. Every decision everyone makes creates a hormonal change within the brain and body, it's less than a split second before the thought or movement is made but I can sense it and I know what it means. Whoever this guy,' Quil air-quoted as best she could, 'is, she's been spending a lot of time with them. Her scent is everywhere over this person.'

'QUIL!'

Before Lucy could ask what Quil meant by that, the cellar walls shuddered with the intensity of the yell and Quil cowered in Mira's clutches like a wolf cub. Master Makarov had doubled in size and was stomping his way over to the trio, the tankard in his hand looked tiny compared to the rest of him.

'M- M- Master!' Quil croaked in terror.

'JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TRANSFORMING IN THE MIDDLE OF MAGNOLIA!' He screeched furiously, 'YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT ALWAYS CONTROL YOUR SHIFTS. BY LETTING GO OF YOUR CONTROL YOU PUT EVERYONE IN MAGNOLIA IN DANGER! CIVILIANS AND GUILD MEMBERS!'

Quil shrank away from the large guild Master. The cellar had gone a stony silent. Everyone was watching the commotion with frightened apprehension. Even Cana had paused from drinking from her barrel to watch. Natsu and Gray had frozen, both had the other in a head-lock, their petrified gaze's drifting from Makarov and Erza.

'I'm sorry, Master,' Quil mumbled, 'I- I couldn't help it. I tried not to but as soon as I heard about the attack on the guild, I- I thought people were hurt.' She flicked her saddened gaze to Mira and back again, 'I was overcome with grief, I thought everyone had died or something!'

Makarov sighed and put two fingers and a thumb against the bridge of his nose as he shrunk back to his usual tiny size, 'I understand, Quil. We cannot always see the best in life, especially when something like this has happened to your family, your pack. But I must impress upon you the seriousness of what you have done.'

Quil nodded apologetically and she tightened her grip around Mira's waist, resting her head on Mira's chest. She felt exhausted.

'Very well,' said Makarov, pausing as he turned to sit back down, 'I suggest you take her home, Mira.' He glared lightly at Quil, 'get her to rest up before she disappears again.'

MiraJane nodded, 'of course, Master,' she clumsily got to her feet and pulled Quil to her feet with surprising ease. Quil stumbled, groaning and putting a hand to her thumping head. It seemed her headache hadn't gone away and wasn't going to any time soon.

'Want a hand you guys?' Lucy asked clambering to her feet.

MiraJane nodded smiling. Lucy's hand snaked round Quil's right shoulder whilst her other made its way up her back to loop around Quil's waist. Lucy could feel Quil's skin was taut over hard muscle. She could feel every back and shoulder muscle and found herself wondering what Quil was like at full health.

'I'm fine, you guys, I swear,' complained Quil trying to bat MiraJane and Lucy away but stumbled and nearly fell again. Two pairs of hands wrapped themselves around her waist and chest, steadying her and pushing her upright. She could feel that something wasn't right, her head was pulsing painfully. It was throbbing behind her eyes and was making her head whirl. Quil groaned. Her body was starting to feel heavy again, a fog was growing in the corner of her mind and her vision was beginning to waver.

'This is why you shouldn't push yourself, sweetheart,' said MiraJane sardonically as the two girls fought to get the half conscious girl up the rickety stairs to the surface above.

Quil snickered under her breath, 'if I didn't push myself I wouldn't get stronger for you.'

MiraJane glared lightly at Quil, puffing out her cheeks in an adorable pout, 'but there's no point getting stronger if you keep passing out.'

Lucy listened quietly to the couple banter. It was nice to hear. It reminded Lucy of a time when her family was happy. The sound of her family's laughter rung in her ears and she tripped a little on the stairs as Mira fumbled to push open the heavy trapdoor. Although, Lucy shook her head a little trying to tune out the torrent of memories that flooded through her mind, she never recalled four laughing voices before.

How strange.

They shuffled out of the hall ruins and turned right down the promenade, Quil's boots were scraping loudly on the flagstone. Lucy's legs were beginning to burn and complain. Her breath was scratching her throat and her shoulder was beginning to cramp under Quil's weight. The Slayer didn't look over weight so it must have been all muscle. A thought that made Lucy blush.

'So, what were you doing in the Waas Forest?' Lucy asked, intrigued as to why she would pick a job so far away from Mira.

Quil made a strange sighing noise, it was almost like a scoff and sigh. Her eyes rose to the sky as she thought.

'Well, there's a small village on the northern edge, near the sea that were being overrun by a horde of fifty Forest Vulcan.' Quil said nonchalantly as though it was no big deal.

'Fifty?!' Lucy yelped and almost stumbled over Quil's feet, 'Natsu and I could barely defeat one!'

'Natsu had trouble?' Quil replied chuckling in amusement, 'wow, he must really suck.'

Lucy frowned as she thought. Normally when fighting during a job negative emotions were quite prevalent. So how did Quil fight without getting angry or upset? It seemed like a double ended knife or something.

'I don't like taking people with me on jobs in case I turn,' said Quil heavily almost as though she had read Lucy's mind and then Lucy remembered that she had probably smelled her thinking. Lucy found that a very strange and almost violating thought, 'and if I do I always make sure it's Erza. Only an S-Class wizard can carry out an S-Class quest. I'd only trust Erza to come with me.'

'S-Class!' Quil looked like such a doofus that Lucy found it hard to believe that she was S-Class, but then, with how quickly she had subdued Natsu with only a small amount of power, it couldn't really be that surprising, could it?

Mirajane nodded and giggled again, a proud smile on her lips, 'yeah. Quil's an S-Class wizard, pretty great, right?'

'Uh, yeah.'

Lucy looked up and shook her sweaty bangs from her faces when Mirajane stopped. The three were stood outside a large white mansion. It's white stone walls were shining gloriously in the setting sun. It had three storeys and a cylindrical pillar either side of the large black double doored entrance. The black wrought iron gates that stood shut before them had Fairy Hills and the guild mark woven in metal that arched above them like a beautiful tangle of thorns.

Lucy's jaw dropped.

'Is this the girls dormitory?'

'Yup, many of the girls live here. Including Quil and myself,' Mirajane explained as she pushed open the gates with surprising ease.

'I've never been in the dormitory before.'

Mirajane led Quil and Lucy down the path that cut through the immaculately kept front garden and passed the ornate front door, around the corner to a smaller, regular sized black door.

'Uh, Mira? Wasn't that the front door back there?' Lucy asked bewildered, pointing as best she could behind them.

Mirajane laughed, her voice tinkled charmingly off the building, 'yes, that's for the other girls. This is our private entrance.'

'Private entrance?' Lucy muttered. Mirajane stooped a little and began hoisting her dress up her left leg. Heat exploded across Lucy's face and she tried to look everywhere except Mirajane. Wrapped around Mira's thigh was a little pouch where she kept her keys. Pulling them out she unlocked the door and pushed it open. Lucy followed, stunned, into a large stately living room. To Lucy's right was an enormous fireplace with a mirror hanging above it encased in a beautiful silver frame. To her left was an elegant cream three piece suite with purple and pink patterns on the cushions that looked somewhat like magic circles. The three seats had been arranged around a glass coffee table that had a small pile of Sorcerer Weekly and a glass jug of water and two empty but clean glasses. Various cabinets and bookcases lined the walls with large curtained windows in between. It reminded Lucy of the estates she had read about in her period novels. Orange light filled the room making it feel warm and comforting. The color scheme of cream, purple and pink seemed, to Lucy, to be the perfect blend of Quil and Mirajane.

With a little trouble Lucy managed to kick off her pink heeled sandals to find that her feet sunk cosily into the plump magenta carpet.

'Nice place you have here,' gasped Lucy as she gazed around, 'can't help but feel a little jealous.'

'Thanks, could you help me take her to our room?'

Lucy stammered over invisible words as her face heated with embarrassment.

'Your- your bedroom?'

'Well, yeah, silly,' said MiraJane, voice fluttering with laughter, 'I can't put her to bed in the living room, now, can I?'

'N- no, I- I guess not,' Lucy stuttered and followed Mirajane's lead through the living room and through an archway directly opposite. The magenta carpet gave way to a deep luxurious mahogany floor. The walls were covered in a pretty white wallpaper that had light pink and dark purple birch tree silhouettes. There were four doors lining the wall on the left, one on the right and one at the very end of the hall. As they passed the second door on the left Lucy saw something that made her stop dead.

On the door was a silver plaque with a name written in green calligraphy that read;

ELFMAN

'Elfman lives here? I thought this was the girls dormitory?'

'It is,' replied Mira smiling almost lovingly as she looked at the handmade sign, 'this is our private quarters.' They moved on again, leaving Lucy a little time to ponder. If this was the girls dormitory, where was the manager and why did Mirajane and Quil live in a private section of the mansion? The three finally reached the only room on the right at the bottom of the hall, Lucy could only describe it as the master bedroom. Lucy fought against the blush threatening to explode over her face as MiraJane placed a pale hand on the white door and pushed it open.

The door swung open with ease shuffling quietly against the cream carpet. The room was large and luxurious, it reminded Lucy of her old bedroom back home but she quickly shook those thoughts from her mind. She couldn't deal with that right now.

A circular magenta rug sat at the foot of a large queen sized four poster bed with a thin lilac satin curtains tied neatly at either side of the headboard. The wall behind the bed had the same wallpaper as the hallway as a feature wall. A thin lilac curtain hung against the bay window opposite them, casting them in a soft purple light. A book of simple magic spells had been left on the bright multi-colored cushions placed on the window seat. The wall to Lucy's left had been hidden by beautifully decorated wardrobes and against the wall immediately to the right behind them was a credenza desk whose shelves had been piled with thick dusty tomes. In the corner, adjacent to the end of the bed was a cute little bucket chair on which was folded a dress Lucy had only ever seen in baby stores as maternity wear. Lucy brushed it aside, Quil and MiraJane probably knew someone outside the guild they were gifting the dress to. Lucy helped Mirajane pull a now fully unconscious Quil over to the bed, they let out loud ragged sighs as the finally let go of the wolf-girl.

Glancing at each other they burst into hushed giggles.

'In the draws over there, could you pass me some of Quil's pyjamas please?' Mirajane asked pointing to a small column of draws built in to the wardrobe as she gently shifted Quil into a more comfortable position.

'Sure,' replied Lucy jovially, she nervously approached the draws and began to pull them open randomly. I really don't want to be rifling through Mira's draws, Lucy thought dejectedly. Heat rushed across her cheeks as she pulled out a pair of lacy black panties.

'They should be in the bottom draw, Lucy,' came MiraJane's airy voice. She sounded as though she found Lucy's situation quite amusing. Lucy quickly folded the black panties and stuffed them back in the draw and shut it with a snap, humiliation burned through her and she pouted. Opening the correct draw she pulled out a white vest top and dark grey men's boxers. Definitely Quil's draw, Lucy found herself feeling a little more confident that she wouldn't find anything too embarrassing in there.

Lucy shut the draw before anything else incriminating could happen and turned to see MiraJane straddling a half-naked Quil as she wrestled with Quil's hoodie. MiraJane had taken Quil's jacket off again and had placed it on the bed beside Quil's head.

More than half of Quil's cleavage had been pulled free of the bandages that had apparently wrapped them and had been folded neatly on the floor.

Lucy squealed throwing the pyjamas to her friend and covered her tomato red face with both hands.

'Thanks,' grinned MiraJane mischievously expertly catching the airborne clothes with one hand, 'wouldn't have thought you'd be embarrassed by frilly underwear, Lucy.'

Mirajane sniggered and grinned at Lucy's flustered face. Lucy wanted to die, she just wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

'You- you planned that didn't you, Mira?!' Lucy accused brandishing a finger blindly at her friend. Only a giggle answered her question.

'I'll- I'll just wait outside,' mumbled Lucy pointing a shaky hand at the closed bedroom door. MiraJane nodded and hummed in agreeance.

'Sure, there's some water on the coffee table in the living room.'

MiraJane's laughing voice followed Lucy out into the hallway. The door clicked shut behind her, Lucy stood for a moment, one hand still hiding the embarrassment evident on her face and the other still holding the silver door handle. Lucy composed herself for a few moments before retracing her steps into the living room. She shakily poured herself a glass, sloping some water down herself and sat nervously on the edge of the three seater sofa. Lucy took a sip and was surprised to find it was chilled. She began to think. She had been a member of Fairy Tail for a month now and she had never made the effort to get to know one of her best friends. What kind of person am I, Lucy thought hopelessly. Looking around the room again, Lucy could tell she was in the home of a real family. Most of the available space on the dressers and the mantelpiece behind her had been covered in photo's. All of the photo's had MiraJane and Quil in them at different stages of their lives, while some included other guild members. Elfman was present in a lot of them too. Lucy got up and wandered around the room peering closer at the photographs. She stopped at one on the mantlepiece and nearly spat her mouthful of water all over herself, the simple silver frame held three photo's seemingly taken in a booth. The first image at the top was pretty cute, Quil and MiraJane were smiling at the camera looking as though they had no worries at all in the world.

Lucy almost didn't recognise MiraJane, she looked totally different. Clad in dark eye make-up and dressed in a grunge-y outfit. Lucy only recognised Mira by her hair, which she had pulled into a high ponytail and her brilliant blue eyes. They were both grinning stupidly and glowing with new love, Quil was leaning in to Mira's shoulder reaching toward the camera. The second in the middle showed MiraJane pecking Quil on the cheek whilst looking at the camera, her blue eyes twinkling playfully. The third, however, showed mostly Quil's back and the pale yet flushed face of Mira underneath her with a rather suggestive gasping expression.

Lucy shivered and feeling as though she had intruded on her friends privacy again, moved on to the next picture. It was set in a larger silver frame and was clearly the centrepiece of the other photographs on the mantlepiece. The girl was neither MiraJane, Quil or anyone Lucy had met in the guild thus far. The smiling girl in the photo had a young, rounded face with white hair identical to MiraJane and Elfman cut into a manageable yet choppy bob. She had large, round and mischievous blue eyes similar to MiraJane's with the most adorable open smile.

Lucy could only wonder who this girl was and why she hadn't met her yet. Maybe she was away on a long mission or something too?

'That's my sister; Lisanna.'

Lucy yelled in surprise at the sudden voice and slopped more water down herself as she spun to see MiraJane standing in the doorway.

'Quil had that taken just over three years ago,' said Mirajane joining Lucy in front of the fireplace. Her voice was quiet as though she was overcome with a numbing grief.

'I haven't met her, is she an S-Class wizard, too?'

Mirajane shook her head, her sapphire eyes shining with unshed tears, 'no. She died not too long after this picture was taken. Lisanna and Quil wanted to give it to me as a birthday present before we left on the mission that took her life.'

Lucy's heart leapt into her throat and her stomach dropped away, 'oh spirits, Mira! I'm so sorry.'

MiraJane smiled wistfully, tears were dancing in the corners of her closed eyes, 'it's OK. You didn't know.'

Lucy took a step forward and placed a hand gently on Mira's arm she felt terrible for inadvertently making Mira relive clearly painful memories, 'but still. I shouldn't have been so insensitive.'

MiraJane didn't reply and Lucy remained silent. Allowing her friend a moment to think back and collect herself.

'How's Quil?' Lucy asked following MiraJane back to the couch and sitting beside the bar maid.

'She'll be fine,' smiled Mira, a light blush evident across her pale cheeks, 'a little more sleep and she'll be up and about in no time.'

Lucy glanced around the beautifully decorated living room again, mouth agape and clutching her empty glass.

'I hope you don't mind my asking, Mira, but why are you guys living with Elfman in the girls dormitory? Don't the other girls find it a bit weird?'

MiraJane giggled and leaned back a little, her fingers brushed her collarbone, 'not at all, this part is completely private from the rest of the dormitory, so the girls rarely come here and Elfman's forbidden to enter into the rest of the mansion. Erza caught him once and that was enough. He didn't feel very manly then.'

Lucy and MiraJane laughed at the thought for a little while, when their giggles finally died down, Lucy was truck with another pang of curiosity.

'So, where's the dorm manager?'

'You're looking at her,' said Mirajane beaming proudly at her blonde friend, 'Quil actually bought this place not long before Lisanna died. She bought it with the pay from her first S-Class quest. I think it was one of Quil's impulse buys at the time. She offered rooms to Lisanna, Elfman and I. That's how Quil and I got together actually.'

Mira placed a finger on her chin as she thought over the memory, 'before the whole Imprinting and Marking thing.'

Lucy giggled, 'aww, that's so sweet.'

MiraJane's smile grew mischievous, 'it wasn't at the time. She walked in on me in the tub. I nearly knocked her out for that but she never left.' MiraJane cast a sad look at Lisanna's photograph on the mantlepiece, 'it wasn't long after Lisanna died. She must have known I wasn't coping. It was lucky she walked in when she did, I had been about to take my own life.'

Lucy gasped at the sudden confession. She blinked a few times, how could someone as happy and go-lucky as Mira feel like she needed to end her own life?

'You must think I'm such a coward to want to leave Elfman all alone like that, especially just after Lisanna…' Mirajane muttered, her blue eyes staring but unseeing, 'I remember climbing into the bath, having everything ready and then Quil burst in with the most adorable blush, blabbering apology after apology. Caught by surprise, I did the first thing that came to mind, I freaked out and threw things. Quil just let me do it and hugged me.'

Lucy listened with rapt attention, she had the nagging feeling MiraJane hadn't told anyone else about this.

'She was crying and she said, "please don't do this Mira. Don't throw away the life Lisanna wanted to protect. I know the pain of losing a sister, I know it's tough and I know it's unbearably painful but it will get easier. Please Mira, don't leave Elfman. Please don't leave me... I love you."'

Mirajane gave a light chuckle and wiped away the tears now trickling down her pale cheeks, 'you must think so little of me now, Lucy.'

Lucy shook her head vigorously and remained silent, fighting to find the right words. What do you say to someone who just confessed that they tried to take their own life? Lucy found herself wondering how she could find the right words to convince MiraJane that she wasn't just saying the first things that came to mind to make her feel better. But Lucy did want Mira to feel better, of course she did, she also didn't want Mira to feel belittled and disparaged.

'Of course I don't think any less of you, if anything it proves my point that you are strong. The entire guild loves having you around. It really wouldn't be the same without you.'

The Celestial wizard threw MiraJane her most warm and encouraging smile. Mira giggled embarrassedly and brushed away the tears lingering on her flushed cheeks.

'Quil has the biggest heart I know. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with her and there are so many,' said MiraJane sniffing wetly she chuckling breathlessly.

'How'd this place get turned into the girls dormitory anyways?' Lucy asked, pleased that her friend was slowly beginning to cheer up, if she could just keep the conversation away from Lisanna from now on, Mira should be back to her happy self pretty soon.

'Not long after the bath incident, Quil heard from Macao that Erza had been kicked out of her apartment for dangerous, unruly behaviour and storage of dangerous weapons. So Quil, despite not liking Erza at all back then, offered her a room and it, kinda, grew from there.' Mira explained with a shrug.

'Aww,' Lucy cooed before glancing at the crystal and diamond encrusted clock beside the archway to the hallway and yelping when she saw the time.

'Oh geez, it's five thirty! I really should get going.' She cried jumping to her feet, 'if I stay too long it'll be dark and I shouldn't really intrude on you anymore.'

'Don't' worry about that,' said MiraJane brightly, standing and plucking the empty glass from Lucy's hands, 'stay for dinner. That way Quil can walk you home when she gets up. And I'll have some company until then, Elfman probably won't be back for a while.'

'Wha- oh, I…um,' Lucy stammered incoherently she could feel her face flush with heat all the way up to her ears with embarrassment.

'Well, you can decide while you help me make dinner.' MiraJane smirked conspiratorially and left Lucy to gabble silently after her.

'M- Mira!' Cried Lucy darting after her friend, she followed MiraJane down the hall and through the door at the very end. Lucy stepped after Mira into a galley kitchen with another door at the end. The kitchen was small and quaint, almost country-like with a built in double oven directly to Lucy's left. The work spaces either side were a light wood with a flat hob powered by magic similarly to the ovens on the counter on the right. On Lucy's immediate right was a tall fridge and freezer.

The kitchen was decorated with cute little trinkets that made the space feel homey. A long line of keys hung on the wall beside the door opposite. Each key had something written above it in cursive writing.

'How d'you fancy spaghetti, huh?' MiraJane asked as she began pulling out kitchen utensils and food ingredients from various cupboards.

'U- um, sure,' stammered Lucy, it seemed like Mira would cook for her whatever she said, she moved further into the room and peered curiously at the collection of keys. Each key had a name assigned to it and each name was a resident in the dormitory.

'Erza… Levy… Cana… Laki…' Lucy muttered brushing each key gently with a finger making them jingle like bells.

'Spare keys,' explained MiraJane as she expertly set the spaghetti on to boil and threw the meat into a frying pan. The sound and smell of sizzling meat immediately filled the room, it made Lucy's mouth water and her stomach growl loudly, 'in case the girls lose their keys or something happens.'

'You'd be surprised how often Erza gets locked out of her room,' MiraJane giggled as she added herbs, salt and pepper to the meat, it was steadily going brown as it cooked. Mira jostled the pan and poked a spatula through the meat, mixing the seasoning in.

Lucy's laugh turned into a yelp of surprise as a loud knock came from the door beside her.

'Speak of the devil,' she snickered, 'could you get that for me please, Lucy?'

Lucy nodded and with a little effort pulled open the door, it seemed to be heavier than the other doors in Mira's apartment. Lucy pulled it wide to see Erza standing self-consciously in a pink two piece pyjama set, Erza's eyes widened in surprise.

'Oh, g-good evening Lucy. I was not expecting to see you here.'

Lucy's expression softened and she smiled affectionately at the apprehensive looking Requip mage, 'yeah. Quil was dizzy when she woke up in the cellar so I offered to help Mira bring her back here but she passed out on the way over.'

Erza started a little, 'and she's still unconscious?!'

The red-haired wizard sniffed inquisitively and inhaled deeply, 'ah, her favourite. She'll be up in no time especially with Mira's cooking.'

Mira laughed as she stirred some more herbs into the meat, 'I'm not that great at cooking, Erza, you know that. This is Quil's recipe.'

Erza waved a hand as though to disregard Mira's comment, 'don't be so modest. You've taught Quil all she knows. Besides anything is better than those village monsters, right Lucy?'

Lucy's face flushed dangerously hot and her heart tried ramming its way out of her chest, she glanced away, not wanting to Erza or Mira to see her face looking beet red. She was sure steam was billowing through her hair from her ears. To say she was shocked to see Erza speak in such a carefree almost flirtatious manner was an understatement, it was almost as surprising to hear her speak in such a caring way about a person she always seems to be at odds with. Lucy wondered if it was because Mira was present, the white-haired wizard herself had said Erza had some sort of residual romantic feelings for her.

MiraJane giggled as she fried off the last of the meat and got ready to add the sauce.

'So what brings you here, Erza?' Lucy asked.

Erza's lips wobbled and she fiddled with the hem of her shirt, 'my, uh, key,' she leaned around the door and plucked the bronze key from her hook, 'Cana passed out in front of my door again.'

The frying pan hissed and the room was filled with the sumptuous aroma of cooked meat and tomato sauce. The smell warmed Lucy down to her bones and made her heart feel light. It made her think of her mother and how she used to hijack the kitchen from the cooks and teach Lucy all of her tips and tricks, she had even taught her how to cook this particular meal. It was astounding how much Mira's food smelled like her mother's own recipe. Maybe it was just Lucy wishing that it were the same. There was no way MiraJane could know all of the ingredients to add to get it just the way she liked it. Even Erza seemed to have been steamrollered by the opulent smells, she was staring at Mira as she worked with a glazed expression and Lucy could have sworn she was drooling a little.

'Oh no, is she OK?' MiraJane asked eyeing Erza with concern as she mixed the meat into the sauce.

'She's fine,' Erza said with a forceful shake of her head as though to shake herself from the trance she had been under, 'I put her to bed but in doing so locked myself out of my room. I'm such a fool.'

Erza clenched a fist angrily.

'No you're not, Erza. I'm sure Cana will be grateful for all the trouble you've been through to make sure she got home safe,' said MiraJane smiling brightly.

A blush spread across her face like wildfire, 'of- of course. Thank you, Mira. I shall let you get on, I shall return the key later on this evening.'

Erza then promptly turned on her heel and marched away, heading across the large entrance hall to a door on the other side. Lucy, wide eyed with awe stepped out of MiraJane's kitchen and gazed around. The entrance hall was large and ornately decorated with buttresses of various animals and a delicate woven pattern that looked similar to branches that wound around them.

In the centre of the hall was a breath-taking sweeping staircase made, like the rest of the entrance hall, from a mesmerising glimmering white stone. A deep royal purple carpet rose up the centre of the staircase hiding the swirling white and grey patterns of the marble steps. The wooden floor was the same luxurious dark mahogany as MiraJane's hallway. It was a bright and elegant sight that twanged annoyingly at Lucy's heart.

By now, Erza had managed to regain entrance to her room and had gently shut the door with a resounding click that echoed eerily around the large hall.

'It's all done, Lucy,' called MiraJane behind her. Turning back into the kitchen Lucy saw MiraJane holding plates heaped with long spaghetti and topped with a generous amount of meat and sauce. Mira smiled and handed her a plate.

'Oh wow, Mira, it looks amazing,' cried Lucy gingerly taking the proffered plate, 'sorry I wasn't much help. I actually know how to cook this dish myself.'

'It's OK, guests shouldn't have to pitch in, besides, it was nice to have the company.' Said MiraJane leading the celestial wizard back into the living room and to a dining table Lucy somehow hadn't seen earlier.

'I like to put the table under a transformation spell when I'm not using it,' Mira explained pulling out a chair for Lucy as she sat down on one herself, 'it makes the place seem more like a living room.'

Lucy pulled a face and shrugged, taking the seat Mira had moved for her, 'makes sense I suppose. My apartment has specified areas for all of my furniture in that sense but I suppose this would have been a parlour room wouldn't it?'

Mira paused with a forkful of meat and spaghetti hovering tantalisingly close to her open mouth, she seemed to be regarding Lucy with a look of surprise and curiosity. Lucy briefly wondered why the strange reaction but then remembered with a painful twist of her stomach that nobody at Fairy Tail knew where she had come from. She hadn't told anyone for fear of them turning on her and demanding money or something. She obviously knew now that Fairy Tail wizards weren't like that but she had left it so long now that it was just better that she never brought it up at all.

She would be Lucy No-Surname forever.

Mira seemed to have overcome her moment of surprise and nodded, 'yes, this place was said to have belonged to a rather wealthy animal and beast collector but when he died they found he hadn't actually made a will so the mansion had to go up on the market. His family were devastated.'

'Oh no, that's awful,' Lucy mumbled as she swallowed a bite. It was strange, it tasted exactly how her mother used to make it. How odd, but then, Lucy berated herself, she could still be imagining the familiar taste. MiraJane was so much like a mother figure that maybe Lucy was starting to see her as one.

'Wow Mira this is amazing! It tastes exactly how my mother used to make it,' Lucy gasped.

'Really?' Mira replied sounding intrigued, maybe she could get Lucy round and cook for her next time she thought with a chuckle, 'it certainly was nice to cook from home for once.'

'For once?' Echoed Lucy shifting to sit on the edge of her seat.

'Yes, normally Quil cooks at home and I only cook at the guild and even then I only follow her recipes,' MiraJane explained twisting sauce covered spaghetti around her fork.

'Huh, I wouldn't have pegged Quil as someone who can cook.'

MiraJane swallowed and laughed, 'she said it was something her mother taught her before she left her home.'

Lucy's eyes brightened at the similarities between herself and Quil, and she couldn't help but wonder why she had left home at such a young age. She wondered if it had anything to do with being put under a curse.

The two ate in a comfortable friendly silence for a while until they heard the bedroom door click open and the soft padding of bare feet coming down the hallway. Quil appeared in the archway rubbing sleep from her eye with the heel of her hand.

'Well, hello sleepyhead,' greeted MiraJane swivelling in her seat at the head of the table so she could see Quil better. Lucy's face slowly heated into a dazzling blush that she tried to quell but couldn't. Quil was wearing the outfit Mira had dressed her in. The dark grey boxers were similar to Gray's, Lucy hated how she could compare underwear of two people she didn't have that sort of relationship with, in that they fell to her knees. The white vest top was much more form hugging than Lucy had first realised. It clung so tightly to Quil's torso that there was only a small amount of baggy fabric right at the bottom where it had ridden up a bit. Lucy could see Quil's rippling muscles through the material and her blush exploded all over her face, down her neck to her chest and enveloped both ears. Her face had gone nuclear. Mira had also clearly taken Quil's side ponytail out as her hair fell in choppy feathered layers to her shoulders and completely hid the fact that she had an undercut.

Without a word to Mira's greeting Quil shuffled into the living room and wrapped her arms loosely around Mira's shoulders, placing a loving but chaste kiss on her cheek.

'Hey,' Quil finally replied, her voice was ridiculously croaky with sleep. MiraJane's face flushed lightly.

The wolf-girl straightened up and fixed Lucy with a hard stare, it was odd and terrifying and Lucy couldn't help but wilt under it.

Quil still couldn't understand why this girl felt so familiar and why she incurred a horrible headache whenever she was around the girl for too long. It was like her scent, her voice, her everything was trying to undo something that had been tightly bound so deep inside her soul. It felt as though Lucy was trying to rip it open. A sharp pain, like a small electric shock sparked behind her eyes at that thought and she pulled air through her teeth, moving to rest the heel of a hand against her forehead, as though the pressure would help the pain go away.

It didn't.

'There's a plate in the kitchen for you, Quil,' said MiraJane, her voice sounded distant to Quil and she had to use some of the strength she had regained to heave herself back into the present, out of the depths of her mind. Maybe some food would help, she hadn't eaten in almost a day.

Quil inhaled tiredly and slouched from the room.

'What was that all about?' Lucy asked in astonishment, her heart felt as though it was running a tin cup along her ribcage. That stare had been so scary. It was almost as if she was looking into the wolfs eyes again. She had almost seen the enormous amount of intimidating power surging in Quil's eyes, but it also felt like she wasn't staring at Lucy at all. It was as if she was staring without seeing, though Lucy wondered if that was even possible. It looked as though she had gone somewhere so deep inside herself that she needed to really haul herself back to the living room.

Lucy had never been on the end of such an intense stare, and that was with dealing with Erza.

MiraJane shrugged, 'Quil doesn't wake up very well. She was probably trying to work out who you were.'

Lucy bit her lip, while she most definitely believed MiraJane, there was something about her tone that made Lucy feel like there was something she wasn't telling her. Of course it was none of Lucy's business but it still didn't feel right. The air felt thick and menacing despite the fact they could hear the clicking of cutlery and quiet murmur of voices as Quil ate her meal in the kitchen. She wondered who Quil was speaking to and why she didn't join them but realised she didn't want to sit and eat in her pyjamas in front of a guest. Not that Lucy was particularly bothered by the prospect of seeing Quil in her pyjamas now that she had already gotten over than shock.

She found herself wondering if all dragon slayers were as ripped as Quil and Natsu or if it was just due to the amount of hard work they put into their training.

'Are you done?' Mira's voice cut through the dense atmosphere and brought Lucy crashing back down to awareness. Mira's voice sounded a little strained and higher than normal, her hand outstretched for Lucy's empty plate.

Lucy blinked a couple of times, 'oh, uh.., that's OK, Mira, I'll take it out.'

Lucy rose to her feet and followed her friend back into the small kitchen. Erza's key had been safely hung back up on its hooks. Well that explained the voices, Lucy thought. Lucy had expected Quil to still be in there but the kitchen was empty. A plate and pair of chopsticks had been washed and placed on the draining rack beside the sink.

Lucy heard Mira hum, was Quil always this thoughtful? The blonde wizard took Mira's plate from her grasp and grinned widely at her friend.

'Don't worry, Mira, I'll wash up.'

'Aww, thank you Lucy,' replied Mira smiling gratefully. The pair stood in a comfortable silence as they had done in the living room whilst Lucy washed up their plates, cooking equipment and cutlery and placed them on the draining rack behind Quil's.

The floor creaked as Quil reappeared now in proper clothes. A purple and black check shirt left open with a black t-shirt underneath, a fresh pair of black jeans, not ripped this time, and her black military boots with the purple studs. The whole style mixed with her skin tone and freshly done hairstyle gave her the look of the tomboyish yanki's Lucy had seen on her walks around town.

She was scratching her head as she walked in, stopping dead when she saw Lucy.

'It's you!'

'Uh, hello,' Lucy replied in utter bewilderment as she waved awkwardly, it felt almost as though Quil had forgotten her entirely.

'It's Lucy, right?' Quil asked, her eyes flashed up and down giving the blonde the once over, her eyes lingered momentarily on the bandage around her thigh and something like guilt flashed in her eyes.

'Uh, yeah, that's me again, hi.'

Quil's eyes widened and little and she grimaced her voice sounded disdainful as she groaned, 'you're a celestial wizard, aren't you?'

Quil crossed her arms defensively and leaned against the ovens, directly opposite Lucy leaving hardly any space between them. Lucy couldn't help but feel that Quil didn't want her to be a celestial wizard. Her heart clenched, had she met another wizard like Loke who has had a bad past experience with them. She internally groaned, Quil was genuinely cool and Lucy hated the fact she might not get the chance to get to know her like she had done everyone else at Fairy Tail.

'Yeah,' Lucy said anxiously, 'is that a bad thing?'

Quil didn't reply straight away, she regarded Lucy a little. There was something nagging right at the back of her mind and she couldn't quite figure it out. It felt as though she was trying to describe a word and couldn't think of how to do it even though the word was right on the tip of the tongue. It felt as though her memory had an itch it couldn't scratch.

Quil's arms tightened across her ample chest she seemed resigned, she glanced to the small clock above the door, 'it's getting late, I'll escort you home.'

Lucy cast Mira a frightened glance, 'oh no, you don't have to do that. I'll be fine, I've walked home from the guild in the dark plenty of times.'

Anger flashed across Quil's face, 'what? No-one offered to take you, not even Erza?'

'Um, well no. Erza hadn't been home that long before she had to go after us on Galuna Island and before that was the Lullaby thing.'

Quil inhaled sharply at that, 'yeah, I heard about that. I heard that some dimwit wizards took down an Instrument of Zeref and totalled the Blue Pegasus guild hall.'

Lucy quailed under Quil's unimpressed gaze, it was almost like being told off by Erza.

'I take it those dimwit wizards were the new Team Natsu?' Even though Lucy understood it was a question it felt more like a demand. She was demanding to know that Team Natsu were a bunch of idiots. This new side of Quil was beginning to scare Lucy, was it the fact that she was still clearly exhausted from her own ordeals or perhaps because Erza herself stopped by or was it something else.

Lucy nodded and stared at the floor, fiddling with her hands, she felt humiliated and was horribly reminded of all those times in the past when her father had called her into his study specifically to pick apart her school work or reprimand her for not being welcoming enough to the suitor candidates he made her meet. These feelings of inferiority and inadequacy were why she had run away in the first place.

Quil glanced at the clock again, 'come on blondie.'

Lucy threw Mira a petrified glance. MiraJane smiled back encouragingly and ushered her friend down the hall and into the living room where Quil was waiting begrudgingly, she had already put on her jacket again. Quil opened the door as Lucy slipped on her pink heeled sandals once more.

'G'night Mira, thank you for the food,' Lucy said drawing the older girl into a hug.

'It was my pleasure, thank you for enjoying it. Maybe next time I could come by yours?' Replied MiraJane with a mischievous wink.

'Definitely,' smiled Lucy as she slipped passed Quil and out into the night. She could feel Quil's magical aura as she passed, she still couldn't work out if she should be scared of the Wolf or not. She was definitely difficult to figure out. Quil, hand still on the handle, leaned up to kiss Mira on the lips. MiraJane's hand snaked up to rest on Quil's chest as Quil rested a hand on Mira's stomach. MiraJane flinched involuntarily and Quil hummed in laughter against Mira's lips.

'Be careful,' said MiraJane breathlessly once she had pulled away and they were walking down the pathway. Lucy blushed and was immediately grateful it was night time, Mira's face looked almost identical to the expression in that last photo booth picture.

Quil spun to walk backwards grinning goofily back at Mira, 'with you waiting? Always.'

The wolf-girl stuff one hand in the pocket of her jacket and raised the other in a static wave as she led Lucy off property.

They walked quite a way in silence. Lucy wondered how Quil knew where to go, she chanced a quick glance at her chaperone. Her expression was hard and unreadable in the constant undulation of light as they strode under street lamp after street lamp. Quil was walking with such a purposeful stride that Lucy had to jog awkwardly to keep up.

Not once has she looked at me, Lucy thought with a vain pout, she had thought that as she'd had quite the introduction to Quil that they would be at least on friendly small-talk terms by now. She puffed out her cheeks, I mean, she thought jealously, I know I'm cute, not on the same level as Mira but still.

'U-um take a right on the other side of this bridge, we're almost there,' Lucy said hoping she sounded chipper as she pointed a slightly trembling finger across the river to her little apartment building that was just visible on the curve of the street.

'Awesome,' mumbled Quil quickening her pace.

This time Lucy had to practically run to keep up. It's like she wants to get rid of me, Lucy thought feeling completely distraught but caught herself before her feelings shaped her expression, no, no, she's been away for a month she probably just wants to get back to Mira.

Lucy sighed dejectedly, she shouldn't have stayed for dinner.

'Here we are,' Quil's flat voice cut through Lucy's thoughts. Looking up she gasped, they were actually standing in the doorway to Lucy's apartment.

'W-wow, how did you know where I live?'

Quil arched an eyebrow and shot Lucy an expression that said the answer should have been obvious, she tapped her nose, 'I have the nose of a hound remember? You said you walk this path all the time. It was easy to pick up your scent from the guild and follow it back here. You wear a very overpowering floral perfume.'

Lucy clutched a hand to her chest, she had been away for almost a week and hadn't used her regular perfume since then. How was Quil able to pick up the scent, wouldn't it have dissipated by now?

Quil chuckled, 'I can still smell it one you. If you use a perfume long enough it actually seeps into your skin and becomes an almost permanent scent.'

Lucy felt her cheeks heat up a little again, of course that was the answer, she should have known that.

'Look, the landlady's a friend of mine. This is actually where Erza got kicked out from, so if she gives you any problems about rent or furnishings or anything let me know.'

Lucy blinked.

Of all the times Erza had infiltrated her privacy with Natsu and Gray why hadn't she mentioned anything. Lucy frowned, Erza was very particular about her appearance, she probably didn't want Lucy to know she had been evicted for storing dangerous armor and weapons. The place really wasn't big enough for her entire collection anyway.

'O- OK, I will, thanks Quil.'

Maybe she's not as bad as she seems, Lucy smiled.

'Well go on then. I'll see you tomorrow at the guild,' said Quil jabbing her thumb to the front door. Lucy's smile widened when she saw the grin Quil was trying to hide.

'You got it, g'night Quil.' Lucy bade Quil goodnight and disappeared inside the small, dark lobby. Quil let out the breath she had been holding in since leaving Mira. She put her hand to her eyes, her head was throbbing like a drum. She sighed shakily. The pain behind her eyes had been growing at a fast pace since she had seen Lucy at the dining table with Mira. She tilted her head towards the sky, still covering her eyes with a hand. Maybe it was time for another visit into the woods to see Her.

'Geez, I really don't want to do that,' grumbled Quil turning and heading back to the dormitory. A clap of thunder and lightning lit up the sky and rain began to thunder from the heavens, it soaked Quil immediately to the bone. She took off at a frightening speed through the city, she wound her way through back alleys and shortcuts to get back to the lakeside.

This rain, she thought squinting up at the sky, it feel ominous.

Quil made it back to the dormitory within minutes to see her beautiful girlfriend standing in the entrance to their home. Light billowed out around her, illuminating her like the angel she was and spilled out into the grounds like a welcoming beacon.

'Mira!' Quil yelled through the pounding rain and roar of thunder that crashed overhead, she waved an arm back and forth, 'get inside!'

MiraJane shook her head frantically and held her arms wide to reveal a large fluffy towel. As Quil barrelled through the door and into the warmth Mira engulfed her in the embrace of the towel, wrapping it arms and all around her like a blanket. Quil chuckled, she should have known Mira wouldn't budge. She wasn't one to leave people to suffer. She pecked Mira on the lips and gently tugged on her lower lip before pulling away.

' Thanks, MJ,' Quil said pulling Mira into the towel too, she grinned mischievously at the squeal of delight that slipped from Mira, 'and before you ask, she got home fine.'