Hi guys, sorry for the wait. This one was an a*s to write, I kept getting writers block. Anyways, there is some adult moments in this chapter.

I should also probably mention that there are some differences in this story to the canon story. Such as, in this story Lisanna has been gone three years not two and Fairy Hills is a little different. Thanks for waiting, enjoy...


EPISODE 3: FAIRY TAIL GOES CALLING.

Consciousness hit Quil like a freight train and her eyes snapped open, leaving her discombobulated and confused as she stared up at the brilliant white ceiling above. She was vaguely aware of her hand clenched in her purple hair. Warm air surrounded her nose as she sucked in a lung full and allowed herself to sink into the welcome comfort of the bed. Quil's skin was sheened with a thin layer of sweat and her inner thighs were slick with the aftermath of her first night home. Shifting her legs so her thighs briefly rubbed together Quill's mind sunk into the memories of soft and tender love making of the night before. Soft, delicate butterfly touches and hot lingering kisses sent electricity fizzing through her body.

At some point Quil had kicked the sheets off during the night, it had pooled over her hips and her leg was sprawled over the side. Her toes curled, she could feel the well-kept carpet between her toes.

The scent of sex lingered delicately in the air and Quil found herself inhaling as much of it as she could, she felt almost desperate to rewind and go back to last night. Being away for a month had left her missing MiraJane so much that she thought she would die of loneliness rather than being ripped to shreds by fifty Gorian. Quil huffed and relaxed into the mattress and pillows, thanking anything and everything that she had made it back to MiraJane safely. Had she known now, she wouldn't have gone on that stupid S- Class quest, and the fact that the guild had been attacked made her feel even worse about being away. As she listened to the birds singing loudly through the window Quil had cracked open last night, her mind wandered to the future. Her heart clenched and flipped at the same time. In roughly eight months' time she and Mira would be welcoming a baby into the world.

Quil had read stories from forbidden books she had come across that described the Mating season of Lycanthropes could change the physical anatomy of a wolf that was Imprinted with a same-sex Mate. The books had stated that this was the Wolf's way of trying to pass on its own genetics, like the Alpha of a wolf pack would. Quil's cheeks heated uncomfortably as she remembered the sensation of waking up the day before she left for North Fiore. Her legs had felt stiff as though she had been running for days and when she stood up she had felt a suspicious pressure in her lower abdomen and her boxers felt ridiculously tight. She knew something was different. At that point, MiraJane had woken up and Quil had been overcome with a strange primal urge. She and MiraJane had spent the entire morning in bed.

Master Makarov had not been happy with her. He had turned up at the guild in the early afternoon to find the entire guild loitering outside. No-one knew where Quil and Mira were and nobody could find them. Apparently, a lot of the girls had tried knocking on both of their doors and when they had asked Elfman to go in and find them he had flat out refused. That had been why she had taken the job so far away from MiraJane, to stop herself taking advantage of her Mate and to stop herself from doing something she would regret later on, like trying to fuck Mira in the middle of the guild hall. A heat flushed through Quil's body as she realised that could have been a possibility. That would not have gone down well.

Quil shifted her head to gaze at MiraJane. Head pressed into a fluffy long body pillow, her hair billowed out around her head like angel feathers. She had one leg slung gorgeously over the pillow and one arm clutching the pillow close, it had apparently been the first thing MiraJane had bought when she was sure. It was supposed to help in the later stages when Mira would find it uncomfortable to sleep. Though Mira's soft breaths were barely audible for ordinary people, Quil could hear them as though she were breathing right in her ear. A soft smile spread across Quil's face, she could hear the teeniest of snores coming from her sleeping Mate and Quil couldn't help but find it the most adorable noise she had ever heard. Quil felt privileged to know that only she had heard those noises.

Quil's soft gaze travelled from her Mate's beautiful face to the mark at the nape of her neck, it was her Marking bite. It still looked as fresh as it did the day she had done it and she frowned. Normally it disappeared as soon as Mating season was over. Maybe it had something to do with the fact she was pregnant?

Quil's heart fluttered as a weight shifted on her out stretched arm that had been buried underneath MiraJane's pillow. MiraJane's visible eye fluttered sleepily open and she smiled embarrassed to find Quil had been watching her sleep.

'Mornin' sleepyhead,' Quil greeted softly, grinning at the irony of the statement, having been called that by MiraJane just yesterday.

MiraJane shifted and buried her face deeper into her pillow and Quil's wolfish grin softened, she couldn't help but admire how sumptuously gorgeous and innocent she looked sprawled on her side with the sheets pooled across her slender calves and the shining morning sun sparkling across her milky pale skin. Warmth spread across Quil's chest as she continued to gaze at Mira and her heart butted against her ribs.

There was no other place Quil ever wanted to be than at MiraJane's side.

Quil reached out and traced her knuckles across Mira's forearm. Quil allowed herself to get lost in the silky soft sensation of Mira's skin, and ran a hand up to Mira's shoulder to cup her cheek. She felt Mira's voice hum as she leaned into the gentle touch. She would always protect Mira.

'Morning,' Mira mumbled sleepily as she turned her head in Quil's caress to plant soft kisses on Quil's palm. A light giggle squirmed its way passed her lips and she shuffled closer to pull Mira into a safe embrace. As Mira shifted awkwardly to move the pillow from between them Quil was greeted to her first real look at Mira's figure. Her toned and flat stomach had disappeared. A small bump was barely visible on her lower abdomen and Quil's body was suddenly filled with an intense heat and need to protect. Quil gave herself a mental shake, determined to squash the Wolf that was trying to break free. While the wolf had made it possible for Quil to sire a child, she would not allow the wolf to take over and take it all away from her. This was their baby.

Mira and Quil.

Not Mira and the Wolf.

Mira shuffled into Quil's open arms and burrowed into Quil's chest, her arms wrapped loosely around Quil's waist as Quil wrapped her arms protectively around her Mate. She remembered the strange scent that was mingled with Mira's soothing scent of vanilla and cinnamon and it now made sense. She had caught the scent of the baby, the change in Mira's hormones.

'Did you sleep OK?' Quil murmured into Mira's sleep tousled hair as she ran her fingers through the long tresses. MiraJane hummed again and squeezed herself closer to Quil.

'Yeah, I was pretty exhausted,' Mira replied softly looking up and nestling her head under Quil's chin, 'y'know, from last night. I hadn't realised how much I missed you until I had you all to myself.'

Quil chuckled and ran a finger in soft circles along Mira's back, enjoying the feeling of Mira arching into her at the touch. The warmth of Mira snuggled against her was like nothing else she had ever experienced before even with her first girlfriend. Quil's hand stilled as she deadpanned at the thought, but then again, Cana had always been distracted by her drinking records, and Quil had been distracted by Mira.

'I know,' said Quil, her voice grew husky as the heated and passionate memories of last night flashed through her mind, 'I missed you too. I'm surprised I didn't pass out again.'

Mira giggled and Quil relished in the soft vibrations it sent throughout her body, she certainly wasn't surprised to feel it pool between her thighs. Mira sighed as she relaxed into the patterns Quil's soft yet calloused hands were tracing along her back and down to run over the dimples at the base of her spine. Mira gasped and keened into the touch, it seemed that despite Quil being away for so long she had remembered all of her sensitive spots. Unable to contain herself anymore Mira leaned her head back and caught her lips against Quil's and kissed her hard. Just like last night, Mira tried to push all of her emotions into it, all of her longing, sadness, happiness and love, and Quil answered just as hungrily. Their kisses turned messy and Quil began nibbling along Mira's already swelling lower lip, Mira allowed her entry immediately and allowed Quil to take control.

Quil's soft strokes along her back turned into hard clutches as she pulled Mira closer, shifting to bear down on the white-haired mage without causing her too much discomfort. Now leaning over Mira, her long dark purple hair cascaded around her head and framed Mira's, merging with her white hair against the pillow. Quil shifted the arm under Mira's neck and braced herself against the wooden head board for more purchase.

A small moan bubbled through Mira's working lips as Quil traced her nails down Mira's back and along to grab at the large white guild mark on her thigh.

Quil loved lonely moments like this where she didn't have Elfman wandering around, or guild members to be concerned about. It was just Quil and Mira. A safe haven of soft warm sheets and loving touches. It was a safe haven of love and security, the promise of living for one another and facing whatever may happen together. It was a bubble that no-one could intrude upon.

It was their solace.

Mira broke the kiss with a pop and her head spun a little as she pulled back, breaking the thin line of saliva that connected them. They were both gasping for air, chests heaving as they gazed at each other, eyes hooded with an ache they had inadvertently reignited.

Grinning mischievously, MiraJane moved. Quil crinkled her brow in a silent question that was instantly answered as Mira repositioned herself over Quil's hips. Quil groaned and her eyes rolled as more heat pooled at the apex of her thighs. Mira's skin was so warm that it tingled Quil's suddenly sensitive skin and the pool of warmth grew, sending small waves of pleasure up her body. Quil's toes were already beginning to curl at the sight sitting above her. A loud gasp ripped its way from Quil's throat at the overwhelming sensation of Mira's centre against hers. With eyes filled with a need stronger than she realised possible, Quil's gaze drifted up from Mira's thighs, up to the little bump at her lower abdomen and up to Mira's face flushed with a desire she still felt from the previous night. It occurred to Mira that having Quil back after being gone so long this time round had sent her libido sky rocketing.

'Are- are you sure you're alright to do this again?' Quil asked with a soft concerned tone, 'I don't want us doing anything that could hurt you both.' Quil could feel tears prickle her eyes as she looked down and caressed Mira's bump. She tenderly rubbed a thumb along the area of skin between Mira's adorable slightly outie belly button and mound. It was that area that had the most pronounced swelling, for the moment at least.

MiraJane nodded, she was moving slowly back and forth. The action wasn't meant for wild fun like they were generally used to but as a gentle foreplay. It was almost soothing, to feel Mira sliding gently back and forth, setting more flames to her already burning desire. Mira's hands were placed on Quil's chest, bracing herself comfortably upright. Quil bit back a chuckle, it made her bump protrude a little more but she dare not mention it for fear of Mira taking it as a personal hit against her weight.

'Of course,' replied Mira, all signs of tiredness was gone from her body as she gazed lovingly down at Quil who pushed her head further into the pillows, 'we'll do it slow, like last night. Nothing too rough though, I'm not sure how sex works now that I'm-'

Mira pulled her gaze from Quil and stared off to the side, she seemed almost embarrassed by the word. Her cheeks burned red but not with desire, Quil could see the mixture of emotions swirling confusingly in Mira's eyes as they welled with tears.

'Hey,' Quil whispered smiling up at Mira shifting to sit up and pulling Mira carefully to kneel in her lap to hold her tight, 'there is nothing wrong with being pregnant. I think you look as beautiful as ever and nothing is going to change that. I'm sure if we have any questions we'll just have to brave a visit to see Porlyusica.'

They both shuddered at the thought.

Quil sighed, 'maybe we should lay off the extracurricular activities for today, huh?' She began retracing circles on Mira's back and buried her head against Mira's ample chest, breathing in her soothing scent. She knew drawing circles on her Mates back was probably asking for trouble but she just couldn't help herself, she found it relaxing and comforting. She felt Mira nod reluctantly against her shoulder.

'You know,' MiraJane murmured quietly, 'I can't help but feel guilty about doing this.'

Quil shifted back and held Mira at half an arm's length to look into her eyes, 'about what MJ?'

Mira's lower lip quivered as she fought to hold back tears, 'well, the guilds going through all this trouble right now because of Phantom Lord. We can't do a thing about it and since you came home I've been stupidly happy again. It just doesn't seem right that things are changing and getting better for us whilst the guild is suffering. We still don't even know why Phantom attacked the guild.'

Mira bit her lip and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands as her tears began to fall thick and fast, 'and my damn hormones are all over the place and I seem to always be crying.'

'Oh, MJ,' murmured Quil, her chest heavy with guilt, 'I'm sorry, I wish I knew how to help with that I-' She suddenly froze. Eyes bulging painfully in their sockets, her heart felt like it had stopped beating and her lungs stopped breathing. She was frozen with shock. Her pointed ear closest to MiraJane twitched. She barely moved as she strained to hear. It couldn't be right? Could it? She was unsure how quickly foetus's grew but she was sure it had only just started.

Her heart fluttered.

She could hear it.

The baby's heart had just started beating!

'M- Mira!' Quil could barely speak as she forcefully sucked in a trembling breath, it was like she had forgotten how to breathe. She didn't want to muffle the tiny serene sound of hope.

MiraJane sniffed, 'what?'

'The- the baby!' Another trembling breath.

Tears welled in Quil's eyes at such an incredible speed that it stung her nose painfully as she was overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, it bubbled in her belly and pushed a sob from her chest. Her body shook and her open mouth trembled, it was still going.

Thump… thump… thump… It sounded so tiny, so delicate, so quiet and yet deafening in Quil's ear as she pressed against MiraJane's abdomen, her fingers gripped Mira's lower back tightly. Her mind was buzzing blankly. She had known people who had had children in the past and she had heard their baby's heart beats but this sounded so much different. Maybe it was because it was her own. It was the most precious sound she had ever heard. She could feel the Wolf swirling frustratedly deep inside, even It could sense the baby's presence.

'Q- Quil?' MiraJane's voice sounded petrified as it shook above her. Quil looked up. MiraJane was ashen faced and looked terrified, tears were pooled at the edges of her eyes. It seemed she had stopped crying at Quil's sudden and confusing reaction.

'The- the baby,' Quil repeated, her voice was raspy and her throat felt sharp as her emotions began rising up her throat. She was quivering with large trembles, 'it- it… it's heart just started beating!'

MiraJane's expression of fear melted into one of complete shock and relief, hot tears spilled down her cheeks in thick torrents.

'R- really?'

Quil nodded and caressed the bump more tenderly than she had ever done before. The tiny heart beat sounded strong and regular, it sounded as though their child was finally ready to say hello to its mothers.

Pride blazed through Quil and set her soul on fire as she sat listening to her Little Wolf's heart beat and MiraJane's joyous sobs against her wet shoulder. Quil felt as though she might explode with the rush of emotions growing inside her and she sobbed, allowing it to bubble from where she held it. It was quiet at first but the longer Quil allowed herself to cry the louder it became. Both girls wailed with tremendous happiness and joy as they clung to each other, allowing themselves to succumb to the exultant feeling of knowing that what was happening wasn't a dream.

When Mira had first told her that she was pregnant Quil had to pinch herself hard to make sure it was real and it was, yet it didn't feel real. Quil felt like she and Mira were drifting through a haze of happiness, joy and bliss and she wasn't sure if she ever wanted to wake up.

Eventually their tears dried and their sobs quietened and they pulled apart, resting their foreheads against each other, breathing heavily. They giggled breathlessly, both girls stroking a hand through the others hair as they tried to regain their breath.

Quil had never considered having children with MiraJane before the instincts of Mating season took over, but she found herself glad that she had given herself over. She had no idea that pregnancy would have such a monumental effect on her, the love she felt for the little bundle of life inside Mira was astounding. It clutched at her heart and made her soul ache. She had never felt such an overwhelming need to protect MiraJane or their Little Wolf.

Each rattling breath Quil took burned at her throat and her chest hurt from the strength of her gut wrenching sobs. She couldn't understand, couldn't fathom the idea that she was a mother.

A mother.

Quil's mind was filled with thoughts of the activities she suddenly wanted to do with her family. Seeing the Little Wolf's first steps, its first giggle and words, teaching it magic and going away on beach holidays to dig holes and bury Little Wolf and MiraJane in the sand with just their heads showing. Her imagination was filled with infectious laughter that rang like bells through Quil's mind. It made her heart flutter and flip. Quil tried to imagine the face of their child and wondered what qualities of them it would have. Would it be a little boy with tanned skin and white hair or a little girl with pale skin and purple hair or would they look completely different?

A breathless chuckle bubbled from Quil and her soft breath tickled across Mira's cheek drawing her from her own ebbing sobs. She turned her head in towards Quil's neck, nestling her forehead against Quil's jaw.

'What?' She murmured inhaling Quil's scent of peppermint and felt herself fall away into a soft embrace of comfort and contentment. The feeling of Quil's skin against her own always filled Mira with a sense of ease. All of her muscles, tensed from her wracking sobbing and crying, eased immediately at the soft warmth pulsating from Quil's body.

'I was just imagining what we could do once the Little Wolf gets here, y'know, like teaching it to pull pranks on Erza or Cana, going on holiday to the beach, chasing it across the waves and teaching it magic.'

A snort of laughter rippled through MiraJane's fondness for what Quil was painting in her imagination, she had to admit, she had been imagining similar situations though maybe hers were a little more responsible, 'you've already given it a nickname?'

Quil blinked, 'well, yeah. Un- unless you've already picked one out, then we'll use that one.'

MiraJane buried her face further against Quil's neck and wrapped her arms around Quil's waist, giggling, 'no, I haven't. I like it though. Our Little Wolf.'

She hummed fondly at the thought and a bubble of joy and excitement fluttered in her stomach and swelled in her chest. It was a strange thing to know that not only was there a little person growing inside her, that was a strange thought in itself, but knowing that its tiny heart had just started beating was profound. The knowledge made MiraJane feel giddy with delight. Quil paused thoughtfully, lifting her chin from Mira's head, 'I wonder what type of magic it'll have. D'you think it'll have my Dragon Slayer magic or your Take-Over magic?'

MiraJane grinned excitedly and shrugged, 'I don't know. It'll certainly be exciting to find out. I'll just be glad if it does have Take-Over magic it won't be scared of itself like I was before I arrived in Fairy Tail.'

Quil remembered when MiraJane first arrived at Fairy Tail with her younger siblings; Elfman and Lisanna. They were travel worn and dirty, covered in ragged cloaks, they had refused to speak to anyone apart from the Master even after he had inducted them into the guild. It had been Quil and Erza who had first got the three Strauss siblings to open up, Mira had been the last to trust anyone. That had been how she and Erza had managed to fall in love with her, only they knew things about MiraJane, Elfman and Lisanna that nobody else knew.

Quil frowned a little, had she not Imprinted on Mira when she had Erza probably would have won her heart. There had been something about their fights and stand-off's that seemed more like an intimate argument.

'Yeah, I remember.' Quil muttered, 'but maybe Makarov will know how magic works genetically. But I'm not sure we should tell him just yet, we should probably wait until we get the guild hall rebuilt or something. Y'know, have a grand reveal or something?'

MiraJane's stomach twisted with excitement and nervousness at the thought of standing in front of the entire guild to announce they were expecting. While Mira usually had no problem wandering through the large crowds whilst at the guild, recently she had been growing more and more anxious about it. She had been asking Cana and Laki to help out more. Laki, bless her, MiraJane thought with a smile, was more than happy to pitch in but Cana had been a bit more suspicious. MiraJane was infamous throughout the guild for not accepting or asking for help behind the bar for being ridiculously fastidious. The drinks behind the bar had to be lined up just so and dusted regularly as civilians could come in for a drink as well.

'I like the sound of that, I think Cana might be getting a little suspicious though,' MiraJane replied in an airy voice, 'she keeps asking why I need all the help.'

Quil grinned widely, 'I hope you told her to mind her own business.'

MiraJane giggled and slowly and reluctantly untangled herself from Quil and sat on the edge of the bed, 'we should get ready. We have to open the guild soon.'

MiraJane elegantly threw her legs over the edge of the bed and Quil watched as she hunched over a little, a slight whimper came from behind her hand which she had clamped tightly over her mouth. Her blue eyes were wide and quavering in an expression Quil had never seen before, was it fear? Shock?

'MJ?' Quil asked, her voice was high with concern leaning over to caress her girlfriends lower back, 'you OK, honey?'

MiraJane shifted a little, moving out of reach of Quil's outstretched fingers. She groaned at the feather-light touch as though it made her feel worse. Quil rolled and shimmied across the bed to sit beside her poorly Mate.

'What's wrong?' Quil asked, worry blazed in her mismatched eyes as she gazed at her lover. MiraJane looked pale and clammy. Quil placed a hand on her shoulder and was surprised to find MiraJane was shaking with every slow, calculated breath she took.

'Yeah, I'm- I'm fine. It's just morning sickness, it should ease in a little while.'

Quil stroked MiraJane's shoulder with her thumb and sighed, 'I'll go get you some water and some breakfast. Want something plain?'

Mira nodded again and Quil stood, stretching her hands high above her head and strained the lingering fatigue from her muscles. Quil grumbled to herself at being up so early as she rummaged around for some clothes to throw on. Giving Elfman a heart attack this early probably wasn't the best way to start the day off. She threw on a baggy pair of grey sweatpants and wrapped her breasts tightly in her gauze wrappings, and pecked MiraJane on the cheek. Quil frowned a little at the groggy feel of MiraJane's cheek, she had a thin sheen of sweat on her skin.

'Maybe you should head in to the bathroom?' Quil said quietly as she straightened up smiling softly at her Mate. Mira nodded and rose to pull a long floor length light pink silk robe with little roses along the bottom. Quil watched MiraJane leave the room in silence. She hated seeing Mira feel so ill, MiraJane was hardly ever sick so to see it really put Quil on edge.

Quil sighed, she was thankful that they had Freed place a sound proof rune cube around their room. Otherwise their little secret would have been out before they had time to come up with a decent excuse. Remembering Freed's expression when she had asked him to come over and write the scripture at the beginning of their relationship made Quil chuckle lightly. His face had been nuclear for the whole two hours he had been here. Of course, MiraJane had treated him almost like an honoured guest, making sure he had plenty to drink and cakes and biscuits to eat. Quil, on the other hand, had made a point of teasing him the whole time. So much so that MiraJane had to cuff her to the coffee table in the living room for a time out because Freed kept getting the enchantments wrong. Quil had to hold back a laugh when Freed asked MiraJane why they had handcuffs, Mira's offhand reply had been hilarious!

Quil sniggered at the memory and followed after MiraJane into the hallway. Mira had already disappeared into the bathroom. Quil paused with a hand on the handle to their room and sighed, feeling helpless as she heard MiraJane begin retching. She hated seeing MiraJane feeling so weak. She wanted to help but there was nothing she could really do for morning sickness. Quil sighed and nudged her way into the kitchen with her hip. Elfman was leaning against the counter in just his pants, half way through a bowl of cereal. He stopped, spoon poking from his mouth, and stared at Quil's sudden appearance.

Eyes blown wide with surprise, a dark crimson blush blazed across his tanned cheeks.

'Tch,' he grunted pulling the spoon from his mouth, filling it again and stuffing it right back into his mouth, 'cover up like a real man, wouldja?!'

Quil huffed, glaring tiredly at the large man, 'bite me.' She squeezed through the small gap between Elfman and the opposite side to snap on the kettle and began making them both coffee, liquid life. As she stared at the trickle of water from the tap into the kettle she couldn't help but smile. This was their morning routine, Elfman and Quil. She would traipse in half asleep, he would comment on her lack of decency and she would tell him to shove it before offering him coffee. It was only a small interaction every day but both of them found it odd when they didn't go through it and it usually put the both of them off for the rest of the day. By the time coffee was usually made in their little routine, MiraJane would join them and steal a sip of Quil's coffee. It was only small but it made them all feel like a real family. It reminded them that no matter what they had all endured, both together and personally, they were always there for each other.

Family.

They weren't just a rag-tag group of people living together, pulled into the same living space by the atrocities they had endured, but rather had been placed there by the hands of fate through their love and compassion for each other. Quil was family to Elfman and MiraJane and MiraJane and Elfman were family to Quil.

That notion always filled Quil with a warm fuzzy feeling. Quil poured the boiling water into the coffee press and relished in the rich scent of coffee as it filled the room. She doubted Mira would be coming in to steal a sip this morning. Her acute hearing picked up movement in the bathroom, it was slow and sluggish. Mira must really be struggling, Quil sighed and poured the now ready coffee into two mugs and turned to hand Elfman his mug. It was his only, it had been his birthday present from Mira and Quil last year. It said BESTEST LITTLE BRO IN THE WORLD!

'Thanks,' he mumbled taking the mug and gulping it immediately, 'I wouldn't bother about making Mira any, she hasn't had any at all for a while now. I'm not sure what's wrong with her at the moment, she won't tell me anything. Maybe she's sick or somethin'. Now you're home maybe she'll start to feel better.'

Quil stared at him, the lip of her mug paused at her lips, she was shocked that Elfman had noticed something was up with MiraJane, she forced herself to smile and shrugged dismissively, 'yeah, maybe.'

Just then, as Quil took her first tiniest sip, there was loud banging and yelling from the back door. Quil yelped in shock and jumped. Her mug slipped from her hands and smashed, sending hot coffee flooding up her legs.

'My coffee!' Quil whined with a pout, 'I'd been looking forward t'that!' Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the thick dark liquid beginning to seep across the stone floor, criss-crossing in the grout. It took Elfman one swift stride across the thin kitchen to grumpily wrench open the door to the rest of the dormitory.

'L- Lucy?' Quil and Elfman gasped at the same time.

The Celestial wizard was leaning against the doorframe in a pair of pink jeans and a plain white t-shirt. Little gems on her pink and white heeled sandals sparkled in the morning sun spilling from the large windows either side of the large entrance doors. She was breathing heavily and gasping and wheezing as though she had run miles. Her face was sweaty and red. Large tears were streaming down from her large brown eyes, her hair, down today, was fly away and stuck at odd angles and her bangs were slick against her forehead.

She stared at them for a moment, trying desperately to get her breath back, clutching at a stitch in her side. Her cheeks flushed briefly when she saw Quil but it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

'Quil!' She breathed sharply, 'Elfman!' Her voice was strained and sounded devastated, her legs were trembling dangerously beneath her. Stepping over the pool of coffee and shards of china Quil came to stand beside Elfman who was staring cluelessly at Lucy. Quil squinted against the sharp pain already building behind her eyes at seeing Lucy. Lucy shifted forward and clutched tightly at Quil.

'You- You've g- got to come! Something's happened!'

Quil's heart sunk and leapt, twisting and reeling inside her chest all at once. Panic welled in her throat as she watched Lucy fight against breaking down in her arms.

'It- It's Levy and- and Shadow Gear, they- they're in South Gate Park,' Lucy choked, hiding her mouth behind her right hand, 'they- they've been attacked! Ma- Master wants you to come straight away!'

'L- Levy?' Quil gasped. Fear, panic and anger erupted in Quil's chest, the thought boiled her blood and chilled it with ice simultaneously. Just what could have happened to Shadow Gear?! Were they alive?! Quil pulled Lucy subconsciously into a hug as the girl finally broke down and cried.

'Elfman,' Quil said. Her voice was low and icy, authority rumbled in a stark undertone in her voice snapping Elfman out of his own panic, pulling his full attention to her. He could see her muscles stiffening under her tanned skin and her eyes darkening. This was her Alpha persona, even Erza backed down to Quil when she was like this.

'Head over ahead of us. Tell the Master we're on our way.'

Elfman nodded and disappeared. He knew there was no use in disagreeing or going against Quil when she got like that, it was just better to go along with it.

'Stay here, Lucy. I'm just going to get Mira, OK? Come in and shut the door for a second.'

Lucy nodded, sniffling quietly as she allowed Quil to gently pull her into the kitchen and close the door behind her. Quil flashed her what she hoped was a reassuring smile, Lucy flashed her an even smaller one as Quil slipped back into the hallway.

'Mira!' Quil called frantically, 'Mira! Where are you?' How was it she could lose her Mate in such a small apartment in such a small amount of time?!

'I'm in here, Quil,' replied MiraJane's voice from the bedroom, she turned to see the bedroom door was open a jar. Quil could see Mira's feet as she sat on the bed. Barging in she saw MiraJane had washed and dressed herself in another of her burgundy dresses, she had paused in putting up her fringe in surprise.

'Quil? What's wrong? I heard voices, is Lucy here again?'

Quil's chest tightened as she stared at MiraJane, she watched as Mira slowly realised that something was wrong, she finished tying up her fringe and moved to stand in front of Quil. She looked into Quil's fearful eyes and placed a hand on her chest and gasped. Quil's heart was pounding out of control and her breathing was short and rapid.

'Quil, sweetheart, what's wrong?'

'The Master needs us. Shadow Gear's been attacked in South Gate Park!'

Mira's sharp gasp of shock stuttered painfully from her throat as she clapped her hands over her mouth.

'Attacked?!' MiraJane echoed horrified, one hand fell to clutch tightly at her stomach. Quil realised she had already cast a transformation spell on herself, her abdomen was perfectly flat again, and Quil couldn't help the small pang of sadness she felt at the sight.

'By who?'

Quil shrugged and placed her hands on Mira's waist, 'I don't know. It's probably Phantom. C'mon, we need to meet the Master.'

MiraJane's quivering lips stilled instantly as she drew them into a thin line of determination, she nodded.

'Of course,' she replied and grabbed her choker from the foot of the bed. She clasped it around her neck as she followed Quil back into the kitchen. MiraJane could still taste her morning sickness in her throat and wished she spent more time brushing her teeth. A strangled yelp drew the white haired mage from her thoughts and she saw Quil pitch forwards, arms flailing. Grabbing her Mate on instinct she pulled her upright to see Lucy kneeling on the floor, her arms were filled with paper towels soaked in coffee and the remnants of Quil's favourite mug.

'Lucy?' Gasped MiraJane.

'Sorry.' Lucy muttered as she scrambled to her feet, 'I accidentally made Quil drop her drink so I thought I'd clean it for you.'

Quil grinned despite the tense, worried air swirling around them.

'Alright, let's go,' said Quil clenching a fist, 'you can fill us in on the way.'

Neither MiraJane nor Lucy moved to follow Quil out into the entrance hall. Quil paused with one hand on the handle and one foot out the door.

'Um, Sweetheart,' Mira's voice made her turn, MiraJane was trying to supress a smile and Lucy was blushing like crazy.

'What?'

MiraJane pointed at Quil and gestured up and down, 'clothes, dear.'

Quil glanced down and yelped, in all of the confusion and haste she had forgotten she was only wearing an old pair of sweatpants and her bindings.

'Right,' she said feeling completely embarrassed and disappeared into the bedroom. Quil's cheeks burned with humiliation as she rooted around for some clean clothes. It seemed that Mira had had a change around with the draw contents again while she had been away. She finally found a pair of black jeans, and a dark pink purple check shirt. Flinging her signature leather jacket over her shirt without doing either up, she sprinted back into the kitchen.

'OK, let's go!'

Mira let go of Lucy and the blonde rubbed at her eyes, it seemed they'd had a moment in her absence. They set off at a sprint, Lucy in the lead through the streets of Magnolia to South Gate Park.

'So, what happened Lucy?' Quil called over the clamour of their hurried steps.

'Well, the guys, Natsu, Happy, Gray and Erza, were waiting in my apartment when you walked me home last night. We were on our way to the guild when we found them.'

'They stayed with you?' MiraJane asked, she was doing her best to keep up as she held the flounce of her dress high above her feet. Quil reached behind and took Mira's spare hand.

'Yeah,' Lucy panted as she took a sharp turn down a south facing alley, 'apparently, the guild decided that all the girls would stay with other guild members, in case Phantom members were still hanging about, Gray reckoned that they could have known where we all live by now.'

Quil's eyes widened. An unconscious Lycanthrope would have been an easy target yesterday, she was glad now that MiraJane had suggested Erza take her into the guild hall. Of course, she had known Erza had stayed at Lucy's last night, they had spoken briefly about how guilty Erza felt when she realised Lucy would be alone at this time of uncertainty. But she hadn't realised Gray and Natsu had come to the same conclusion, Quil hadn't sensed their presence or smelled them when she had dropped Lucy off last night.

They fell into silence, MiraJane and Quil were aching with dread at what horrifying sight lay waiting for them in the park. Quil tried not to think about it but terrifying nightmare-ish images oozed into the mind. Levy, Jet and Droy's bodies as if lying lifeless on the ground, covered in blood and beaten beyond recognition, or perhaps Levy had been raped or something, but no matter what horrible thought crossed her mind, they all came back to all three of them being dead.

Quil forcefully swallowed, pushing down the swirling dark clouds of negative emotions inside her and a flood of ice filled her body. She couldn't let the Wolf out, once was enough. Fairy Tail had had enough bad luck, a Wolf induced massacre certainly wouldn't help their situation. Quil didn't remember it ever taking this long to get to South Gate Park before. It felt as though the large cherry tree, covered in healthy bright green leaves, that could be seen above the rooves of houses and shops, wasn't getting any closer. Quil gritted her teeth and glanced back at MiraJane, she was showing signs of exhaustion already. Her face was flushed and there was a sheen of sweat glistening on her face and chest. She saw Quil watching her in concern and smiled.

Finally after what felt like an hour, Lucy led them under the iron archway of the South Gate Park. The cherry tree they had been staring at since they hit the inner city took up most of the small park. The small green field was filled with a large crowd, it seemed that many of the local citizens had gathered around the base of the tree, and they all seemed to be murmuring amongst themselves and pointing up into the shadows of the lower branches.

'Excuse us,' called Quil to the outer layers of the crowd, 'please let us through, we're part of Fairy Tail!' As they began weaving their way through the crowd Quil and MiraJane caught sight of the horror that awaited them, emerging from the shadows like a nightmare. Quil's immediate thought was that they were dead. Large gashes and bruises covered their entire bodies, so much so that she couldn't even see Levy's usually pale skin. Her bruises looked the worst, violent red marks and dark purple and black bruises were everywhere. Jet and Droy didn't look too bad, battered and bruised but OK. Quil could only hope they had fought back. Levy's bright yellow crop top had been completely torn away to reveal her matching bra.

Quil's anger flickered in her stomach and churned it sickeningly, MiraJane had to slow and place a hand over her mouth, the dreadful sight had triggered her morning sickness again. Quil's heated gaze shifted from Shadow Gear, hanging seemingly lifeless, to MiraJane and back again. A crude symbol had been drawn across Levy's bare stomach. It was Phantom Lord's symbol.

'That- that looks like blood!' MiraJane squeaked. Her lips were trembling, she, like Quil and Lucy, was crying at the sight. They continued to push their way through the crowd, Quil growled in frustration, why did people feel the need to stare? Why did they have to gather round at all? It was a disturbing sight without everyone gawking up at them. The people they had already passed whispered in their wake and Quil heard her name whispered between a few of them. It seemed her presence was just as rare as this brutal attack on Fairy Tail wizards.

Quil was getting rougher and rougher as her anger grew with how she was handling getting through the crowd, MiraJane and Lucy followed silently behind her until Quil saw a familiar shade of red hair.

'Erza!' Quil yelled out and the Requip mage turned. Her brown eyes were swirling with a mixture of dark emotions and her body was trembling in anger.

'Quil, Mira you made it. I'm glad Lucy found you,' greeted Erza turning her head to gaze back up at Shadow Gear.

Quil stepped forward, pulling Mira gently along behind her, 'Why haven't they been taken down yet?! Don't you think people have ogled enough!' Quil yelled at Erza throwing her spare hand behind her, gesturing to the onlooking crowd, some of whom were turning to watch Quil yell at Erza.

'We were waiting for you!' Erza replied just as loudly, her fists clenched and her nostrils flared as she glared at Quil.

'Enough, children please,' came the Master's voice as he stepped towards them from beside the tree base. Quil saw Natsu was kneeling, crouching over with his fists on the ground, heat was rolling off him in dangerously hot waves, 'we do not need any more fighting. What Erza was going to say, Quil, was that we were waiting for you and MiraJane. You are more capable with your sense of smell than Natsu. We wanted you to make sure it was the same person who destroyed the guild hall, and we wanted Mira to check their wounds before we move them down in case we injured them more. Elfman has gone to the hospital, they should be on their way soon.'

Quil nodded and tightened her grip on Mira's hand, she supposed that made sense.

'Alright, Master,' Quil sighed, ' I'll take a look. I'll look at their wounds too, I don't want Mira climbing trees.' The Master did not argue with Quil's tone of voice and stepped aside to allow Quil to pass. She left Mira with Erza and Lucy and climbed up to the lowest branch closest to her three guildmates. It took all of her concentration not to release the flood of anger building and swirling dangerously inside her, the Wolf was really trying its best to escape its cage. Sitting comfortably on the branch, she allowed herself to fall backwards to hang from the branch. Levy looked the worst so she checked her first.

Quil gently placed her fingers to Levy's neck, just below her ear, and sighed loudly with relief, there was a pulse it was slow and slightly irregular but she was alive, but her skin was ice cold. They had probably been out here all night. Quil closed her eyes, fighting the urge to wolf out at the thought, they had most likely been ambushed on their way home last night. Frustration, anger and guilt burned Quil like a white hot only she hadn't passed out, if only she had been thinking straight, she could have stopped this. If she weren't already, she would curse herself for not protecting her family.

'Levy's alive!' She called down and heard the crowd heave a sigh of relief as one. Gritting her teeth, Quil leaned forward as far as she could and inhaled Levy's scent. She could smell Levy's innate smell, pomegranate and blood orange, her favourite soap but she also smelt musty- she had definitely been out here all night. On top of those smells, sticking out quite obtusely was a smell she had grown tired of smelling. It had been all over the guild hall yesterday and had lingered on her own clothes and wafted through the city. It was iron. Iron and something else. She couldn't describe it but it was definitely him.

Gajeel Redfox.

The Iron Dragon Slayer.

Quil glared at the thought of him. She placed a hand on the thick black iron pinning all three of them to the tree. It was cold to the touch and thicker than any ironworker could ever hope to make it. This was his own personal iron. However, he could never hope to best her. She took a breath and allowed ice to flow through her veins and out through the palm of her hand. Iron broke easily under the right temperature, if she struck it at the right angle it would break and free Shadow Gear without harming them further.

'Erza!' Quil called without taking her concentration from the iron encasing Levy's right wrist, 'get ready!'

She heard Erza answer and heard the chink of armour as Erza moved into position below her, ready to catch Levy when Quil finally managed to release her.

'It'll be better for Levy if I break them both at the same time,' she said to Erza, 'the guys can deal with a little more pain but Levy's the most injured!'

'Alright!' Erza called back, 'whatever you think is best!'

Quil scoffed, there were times she really didn't know how to deal with Erza. Most of the time they were at each other's throats yet nobody could deny they were the best team amongst the S- Class wizards when they worked together. Even Quil had to admit working with Erza was much easier than she ever thought it would ever be whenever they teamed up, it was as though they could read each other's minds and bounce off one another to always succeed in what ever job they had taken on. Maybe it was their mutual love for MiraJane that enabled them to work so well together, but Quil didn't really know. The whole Mira thing was the very reason they never saw eye to eye in the first place.

Quil moved to freeze the left sheet of iron and gritted her teeth against the small amount of strain. Maybe she should have had an iced coffee this morning. She could feel the iron getting colder and colder underneath her palm. C'mon, she urged. She pulled away, shaking the cold from her hand and lined up her palms with the frozen iron plates.

'Ready?'

'Indeed!'

Quil's palms smashed against the cold iron, it shattered into tiny pieces and Levy dropped like a sack of potatoes into Erza's out stretched and waiting arms. Jet and Droy's free arms fell to their sides and they swung helplessly back and forth. It was a sickly sight, they reminded Quil of the dolls she used to play with in her childhood.

Right, Quil thought and gritted her teeth again as she swung herself up to shimmy along the branch and hang back down in front of Droy. She repeated the process with Droy and then with Jet, she never had to check that Erza was there ready to catch them.

Standing up on the branch, Quil saw Erza had laid them carefully on the grass away from most of the crowd, Lucy and MiraJane were double checking them. She jumped and spun landing perfectly on the ground earning an appreciative spattering of applause for her flawless and effortless work. She glared at the crowd, anger seared through her as she stared at them, only some noticed and began backing away as an ice cold breeze began to emanate from her.

'Alright you guys,' came Gray's voice, 'shows over, they're fine. The guild'll take care of them now.'

The crowd slowly dispersed with Gray and Quil's help. The threat of Quil freezing them where they stood also made people leave fairly quickly until only Team Natsu, Quil, MiraJane and the Master remained in a stony silence.

Quil unwrapped her bindings, did up her shirt and began ripping it into segments as she came silently to kneel beside Lucy. Lucy let out a soft squeak of surprise when Quil fell to her knees beside her and watched in tearful fascination as she began using what she recognised as Quil's breast bindings to wrap some of Levy's more significant injuries. How could anyone ever dream of doing this to poor Levy and the guys of Shadow Gear, they were some of the sweetest people in the guild and certainly weren't a threat or a nuisance to anyone. Lucy sniffed, her eyes were aching and stinging with the amount of tears flowing from her eyes, she wished she had been around to protect them. They must have been walking home around the same time she had been. Judging by the dampness of their clothes they had been out in the storm last night and Lucy's breath caught in her throat as she stroked Levy's cheek, had they been attacked before the storm?

On her other side, MiraJane was leaning over Droy, her ear hovering just above his lips, she had placed a hand behind her ear, keeping her white hair out of the way as she checked for signs of life. She seemed satisfied as she straightened up with a grim expression. Lucy wondered what thoughts were swirling behind those glistening blue eyes of hers. She had seen a change in Mira since Quil had returned, according to Erza and Gray they were usually quite touchy-feely which Lucy couldn't imagine Mira being but there was something about how they were acting seemed almost secretive.

'Master,' said Quil once she had moved the last of the onlookers on, 'what are we going to do now?'

'I can handle our guild hall being reduced to rubble,' the Master's voice was a low rumble and his little body began to quake with uncontrollable rage, 'but I will not let harm come to my children!' His Wizard Saint staff splintered under his grip as he glared down at Levy, 'without taking REVENGE!' Quil jumped back a little at the sudden explosive force of his magical aura, it roared around him.

'WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO TO WAR!'

'We're here!' Elfman's far away voice yelled and the guild as one looked up to see the large man leading a troupe of five medical personnel across the field towards them. They were all wearing large cream smocks, the female staff were wearing pink berets and the male were wearing yellow. On their left breast was the symbol for doctor in front of a white magnolia flower. The lady walking beside Elfman, however, was wearing a green beret, Quil narrowed her eyes a little as she watched her get closer and closer, she must be the head medic. Her long brown hair had been pulled into a high ponytail and her bangs had been clipped out of her eyes with a pink Fairy Tail hairclip.

'Elfman!' Quil met him halfway and turned to walk back with him, 'what took you so long?'

'We didn't believe him at first,' replied the head medic, she had a rather stuffy sort of voice as though she had a cold, 'when we hear about trouble between Fairy Tail wizards we just assume it will get sorted amongst yourselves. Sorry for the delay.'

Quil sniffed and glared at her, 'well, this isn't amongst ourselves. Phantom Lord did this, why would we beat up our own members and hang them from a tree for everyone to see?'

Quil could feel her anger and frustration begin to bubble in her chest again, she was getting tired of the wolf trying to weasel its way out. She grunted and rubbed at her chest, sending the woman a sideways glance. She could hear the other medics whispering to themselves as they followed behind. Some had already seen Shadow Gear on the ground under the tree with MiraJane and Lucy and were wondering what Fairy Tail had done now, others were shocked to see such brutality.

The head medic stumbled a little in surprise and she gazed open mouthed in shock at Quil, 'they were hanging from the tree?'

Quil nodded and flexed her jaw muscles, memories of seeing them hanging were running through her mind at a blinding speed, 'yes. I was the one who got them down.'

'You- you did?'

Quil nodded darkly as they came to a stop in front of Shadow Gear.

'If you could please tell me of any injuries you detected, that would be a great help.' The head medic said desperately as her team began to prepare themselves behind her. It seemed they were a well oiled machine as they barked orders to each other and pulled out proper medical supplies, a couple were even already inspecting Quil's rudimentary wrapping of Levy's wounds.

Quil felt a warmth appear beside her and a pair of arms wound themselves around her arm. Mira, Quil realised with a warm smile.

'I- I can help,' said MiraJane anxiously holding out her hand for the medic to shake, which she did briskly, 'I'm MiraJane. I looked them over when Quil and Erza got them down.'

Quil nodded, smiling gratefully at MiraJane and squeezed her hand reassuringly, 'Levy seems to have been hurt more than the guys, which makes sense I suppose, she's so tiny. I noticed her left wrist has been broken and her right femur.'

'Jet and Droy only seem to have small cuts and bruises, they're all breathing right now but they're unconscious. We think they may have been pinned to the tree all night during that storm last night.' MiraJane continued in a small voice.

The medic followed their gazes with a saddened expression, she had met the little blue haired girl before and remembered her to be a pleasant light-hearted girl, she wondered who could do such a thing. She looked at the two clearly distraught wizards beside her without moving her head from Team Shadow Gear.

'Do we know who did this?'

Quil glared darkly and gritted her teeth painfully, 'yes. We do, don't worry, we'll sort them out.'

'I hate seeing them like this,' Lucy's voice mumbled across the hospital wing and drew Quil from her thoughts. She couldn't go any further than the first bed, she didn't like hospitals and she was angry at herself for allowing such a silly fear get the better of her like this. Her friends needed her, and yet her enemy, the hospital bed, wouldn't allow her passed. Her fists shook at her side. She was glad for Mira's support, she had effused to go any further too, preferring to stay by her Mate's side and draw spirals on Quil's under arm.

They were now in Magnolia Hospital, Team Shadow Gear had been taken straight in to be seen to. Quil's gaze shifted from Jet to Levy at the far end near the window. The doctors had found her broken wrist and broken femur just as Quil said, but she also had a broken rib and a fractured eye socket. Quil couldn't figure out why Levy had so many bad wounds and breaks when Jet and Droy were unharmed in comparison. What made Levy stand out to Gajeel?

Quil gritted her teeth painfully as her anger began to rise into a fury. Levy was good and decent and certainly didn't deserve all of this pain. To see them bring Levy and the guys round even for a moment to take pain medication had been heart shattering. Poor Levy had screamed and screamed in pain and all Lucy, MiraJane and Quil could do was help the doctors and nurses hold them down.

'I know,' MiraJane replied in a shaky voice, her arms tightened around Quil's arm, 'it's not right. They didn't deserve this… this whatever this is.'

'Phantom Lord is heartless,' Lucy whispered against the lump in her throat and wiped pointlessly at her sodden cheeks, 'how could they do this?'

Quil growl, it rumbled from her chest and sounded dangerously like the wolf within, her eyes were ablaze with fury, 'I don't know but I'm going to find out.'

'Mira,' Quil whispered, gesturing with her head to the empty hallway, she could feel her anger filtering away the more she looked at her Mate, she truly loved MiraJane. Quil saw MiraJane glance at Lucy who had stood up from her chair beside the window to dampen the cloth on Levy's head. MiraJane nodded and silently followed Quil out into the hall.

Quil walked a little way down the corridor, listening to their footsteps echoing eerily off the walls. It sounded just as hollow as her insides. She couldn't quite describe how she felt, it was almost as though she was so angry that she couldn't feel anything anymore. Her heart was thumping so quickly in her chest that it felt like a large hummingbird trapped in a cage. Her hearing was going as well, all she could hear was the rushing of blood in her ears and the banging of her heart in her chest. Her veins felt white hot.

She stopped a little way from the wing where they had left Lucy watching over Shadow Gear.

'What- what's the matter, Quil?' MiraJane asked softly, she was well aware of Quil's anger, she could feel it searing through the bond they shared but she had no idea how to help quell it, 'what's wrong?'

Quil's chest tightened painfully as she raised her blurred gaze to stare at Mira, trying desperately not to cry.

'I- I need you to stay here with Lucy, please,' she said, her lower lip trembled and her throat tightened, her voice was shaking with determination to keep her Mate safe. She didn't want MiraJane involved in what the rest of the guild was planning. Images of Mira in a hospital bed looking like Levy plagued her mind and her stomach jolted sickeningly. What if something would happen to the baby, she could feel herself growing almost crazed at the thoughts rushing through her mind.

She wouldn't be able to handle if anything happened to MiraJane or their Little Wolf, she couldn't be involved with what the rest of the guild was gearing up to do. Quil, herself, hadn't meant to stay as long as she had in the hospital.

'Why?' MiraJane's voice sounded forced and strained, as though she was trying to understand why Quil wanted to leave her behind again. Quil's mind was filled with what if images of Mira lying dead on the floor of the Phantom guild hall, her pale skin covered in thick bright red blood.

'I don't want you coming with us.'

MiraJane stepped back a little, a hand clenched lightly at her chest and her large blue eyes filled with tears, 'with you? Why, where are you going? You just got back!'

Quil stepped forwards arms out stretched towards her Mate but she shrank back away from Quil, large tears spilled down her cheeks as she glared at Quil with a mixed expression of anger and confusion. She shook her head lightly.

'Mira, please,' Quil pleaded, a lump was burning in her throat, seeing Mira stepping away from her shattered her hearts to bits.

'It's not that I don't want you with me, you know I do, but the Master took me aside before we left the park. He wants to pay Phantom back, the whole guilds but I don't want, no… can't have you going. I don't want either of you getting hurt or worse.'

Quil stepped forward and relief flooded through her when Mira didn't step away, she placed one hand on Mira's hip and placed the other delicately on Mira's stomach. Quil was sure she could feel warmth radiating from the baby, it was almost though she could feel it reaching out with her.

'I- I can't lose you both,' Quil whispered, her lip trembled as she leaned forward, clutching MiraJane's forearms tightly as though scared that if she released Mira even a little bit she would disappear. MiraJane watched Quil fight against the fear that was clearly overwhelming her and felt her heart break and her stomach flip, of course Quil would be scared to lose them. How on earthland could MiraJane have felt any sort of dislike towards Quil simply for being worried something would happen. Phantom were ruthless, what did she think they would do if a defenceless wizard went knocking at their door, ignore her? No, she would probably end up right next to Levy. She couldn't hate Quil for putting their child above herself, MiraJane sighed resolutely, she would have done the same. She smiled and stroked Quil's hair lovingly.

'Of course I'll stay.'

Quil straightened up, eyes wide and wet with tears, relief and gratitude flooded through her body pushing yet more tears from her eyes, her legs wobbled dangerously again.

'Oh, thank you, thank you Mira!' She wailed breathlessly, 'I promise I'll be back as soon as I can.'

Quil planted her lips against Mira's and tried to put all of her emotions into it. She would come home, she would keep them safe. She wouldn't let anything like this happen ever again, to anyone in Fairy Tail. It was her duty as an S-Class wizard to protect those who were not as strong.

'Be safe,'' whispered MiraJane against her lips. She nodded and pulled away.

'I have to go, don't say anything to Lucy, she needs to be there for Levy. Besides,' Quil winked mischievously at Mira, 'Erza wouldn't be happy if anything happened to her.'

Leaving MiraJane to mull over her words, she turned and sprinted out of the hospital. The guild would wait for her at the station.

Quil had to admit as she left Mira staring at her retreating back, she did not like the idea of leaving MiraJane unprotected. Although dragon slayer noses were not as strong as a wolfs nose, now that the baby's heart had started beating there was nothing stopping a dragon slayer from hearing how vulnerable MiraJane was at the moment. If Gajeel was still in town then she was leaving two very vulnerable wizards ripe for the plucking.

Her chest constricted around her lungs and she felt their air leave them at the thought but Lucy wasn't stupid. She had help, she had her spirits. For Erza to have someone like Lucy on her team then she must possess a lot of capability. Quil gritted her teeth as she pushed onwards, through the town towards the station at the main entrance to the city. She ignored the bewildered and pitying looks she got from people as she rushed by, it seemed word of Shadow gears attack and Fairy Tail's subsequent retaliation had already reached the civilians of Magnolia. Somewhere even shouting words of encouragement as she sprinted passed. Not that she really heard them. Her mind was now set on one person.

Gajeel.

His scent had been all over South gate Park and Team Shadow Gear and he would pay dearly for it. Of course, she would have to fight Natsu for the chance to fight him, which she would win, she would make sure of it. She heard the whistle before she saw the station, she had missed it. The train was leaving without her! Even though she was dreading the two hour trip to Oak town with the guild she couldn't miss this train! She pelted round a corner, she could see the station!

Great plumes of black smoke was billowing from the large gaps in the glass roof, her mind whirled into overdrive. If she could calculate the trajectory and the speed at which the train was moving at she would be able to propel herself clean over the street and station to land cleanly on top of the train. With that in mind she twisted, without stopping and filled her lungs with air. She really should have bought herself an iced coffee when at the hospital! Aiming her spell directly behind her she let it go.

'ICE DRAGON ROOAAAAAR!'

Ice spewed from her spell and hit the street like a glacier crashing into a cliff. It created a pillar of ice that shot her into the air with so much force that she felt like she left her stomach behind. She could see the train as it pulled out of the station, she was right on target! With a yell of exhilaration and determination she landed heavily on the coal trailer. Staggering to her feet she brushed her clothes free of soot and clambered down into the first compartment.

'Where ya been, Quil!'

She turned to see Natsu grinning dangerously at her, she was a little surprised to see him moving around. As soon as she stood she could already feel the queasiness growing inside her and suddenly she had a new found respect for what Mira goes through every morning and early afternoon.

She grunted dismissively at him and flopped into a chair beside Erza who smirked, 'I was beginning to think you weren't coming.'

'Course I was,' Quil forced herself to grin against the rising sickness in her stomach, 'y'didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did you?'

'Wup! Natsu's gone!' Gray's voice yelled somewhere behind them and they heard something heavy crash to the floor.

Quil snorted and allowed herself to fall onto Erza's lap, 'I think I'm gonna pass out now.' The last thing she felt before she allowed the train to rock her into unconsciousness was Erza's breathy chuckle and her hand rest on Quil's hip.

The train jerked to a stop and Quil's eyes snapped open. She could hear the guild clamouring to get off and someone asking Gray if he was going to pick Natsu up. Her face felt warm. Why did her face feel warm? She didn't remember… a rather large ice cube slipped down her throat and pooled in the very pit of her stomach, she sat bolt upright. Her neck ached like hell and her mouth felt like sandpaper. She remembered! She had fallen asleep on Erza's lap!

Ugh, she felt sick.

'Sleep well?' Her skin crawled at the deep arrogant voice of Erza, she was sat in the seat next to her with her leg crossed over the other. Quil narrowed her eyes, it wasn't really a scowl it was more of a mock glare. She really never really knew how to take Erza. She grunted in irritation.

'C'mon you guys!' Quil and Erza looked out the far window to see Natsu cupping a hand around his mouth and waving frantically at them, 'if ya don't hurry up you'll miss all the fun!' He was grinning widely at them, flashing them his draconic fangs.

Quil's eyes widened in fear, 'oh no!'

She bolted from her seat, her nails dug so deeply into the arm rests that she ripped the material. She could hear Erza's heavy bootsteps behind her but she didn't pay any mind to Erza, Natsu or the rest of the guild. She could feel her cheeks blazing with the darkest blush she had ever felt, resting on Erza's lap had seemed like a good idea at the time. The train floor was not the most comfortable place to pass out on, the last time she ad done that she had been stepped on by a whole class of kids on a field trip. Quil sprinted at full speed through the town, her nose wrinkled. Gajeel's scent was so thick in thick town it was making her feel physically sick. She clenched her jaw and pushed herself faster, she had to stop Phantom Lord. She had to protect MiraJane, Levy and the rest of Fairy Tail.

The Phantom Lord building for Oak town wasn't too difficult to find. It was a large distasteful castle-esque building in the centre of town, towering over all the other buildings and homes like a grotesque giant. Oak town residents stopped and stared as she shot through the winding streets like a purple streak. Quil skidded to a halt in front of the large main doors to the Phantom lord guild and bent double leaning on her knees to catch her breath. Her lungs felt like they were on fire. The thought of Mira would keep her going, would keep her fighting. She would find out why Phantom attacked Fairy Tail, she would ask them why they attacked Shadow Gear and she would make them regret putting Mira in danger.

'Out of breath already?'

Quil groaned and rolled her eyes at the arrogant voice, looking up she saw the rest of the guild had caught up with her. Either she was losing her touch or they were just as motivated to get to Phantom as she was.

She scoffed and straightened up, grinning, 'I'm surprised you managed to catch up so quickly, y'know,' Quil pointed at her breasts, 'being weighed down by these.'

Erza's face flushed as dark as her hair and her body quaked dangerously with embarrassment. Behind her, Natsu and Gray had fallen over in their less than obvious attempt to cover up their roars of laughter. Erza stepped forward and stretched out a hand to the side as though to summon a sword.

'Knock it off you two, we are not here to fight each other!' The Master's voice cut through the growing malice and magical power, his white cloak billowed out behind him, blustered into the air by his magical aura as he cut through the guild as if parting the sea.

Quil could feel the excitement rippling around the collected guild members like waves over the shore, and she grinned. They were here for the same reason as she was. To protect their guild. Her thoughts flashed to Mira, had she come she would have been overcome by sickness with the amount of magical power pulsing through the air.

On the other side of the door Quil could hear the rumble of voices from within Phantom's Oak town guild hall. She could count roughly a hundred people inside, including the person she was most hoping to come across. Her grin widened.

'Quil?' The Master's voice cut through Quil's darkening thoughts snapping her out of them, she turned back to the Master who was watching her with apprehension, 'would you like to do the honours?'

Quil nodded and grinned again, that had been close the Wolf had almost seeped through, she knocked loudly on the doors.

BAM, BAM, BA-BAM, BAM… BAM CRASH!

On the last knock she smashed an ice covered fist through the door, sending not only the doors flying back but a huge wave of ice cold air spilled into the guild hall freezing some of the closer members before they even had time to react. Phantom all gasped and yelled collectively and leapt to their feet, glaring and sneering at their guests. Quil, arm still out stretched from her explosive punch smiled toothily at the Phantom Lord members and a quiver of fear shook through them. She knew they recognised her, she heard them whisper the words 'wolf' and 'daemon'.

Quil blew air aggressively from her nose, I didn't hear 'mother'¸ she was a mother damn it!

The Master casually walked passed Quil and into the guild and bellowed:

' FAIRY TAIL HAS COME CALLING!'


Aand done, it's starting to get good, huh? Please R&R and I can't wait to see you next time.

Until then...