Every ache, every pain, all the sweat and blood he shed over the past two years, three months and 12 days was absolutely, completely and utterly worth it.

He clutched Levy against his chest, her small fists pounding on his back as she laughed and cried at the same time. His own eyes burned and he buried his face into her hair and...just...breathed. The familiar scent of grass and paper, mingled with something that didn't used to be there. But it was still her, and that's all that mattered.

With another laugh he lifted her up and swung her in a circle. Her arms tightened around his neck and she let out a peal of laughter. Something inside him fluttered and his heart felt lighter than it had in months. He set her back on the pavilion and chuckled when she swayed on her feet. She smiled, the large beaming smile that took up her whole face and set his heart to racing. He held her face in his hands, wiping away a stray tear with the pad of his thumb.

"I thought you were dead," she whispered, leaning into his touch. His heart pounded until he thought it would burst.

"Ya really thought a couple of swords would beat me that easily?" His mouth lifted and Levy barked a laugh. A low growl answered.

Gajeel glanced to the side and lurched backward when he saw a large panther stalking toward him, head lowered and lips curled in a snarl.

"Oh Lily, really?"

"Lily?" Gajeel said, glaring at the approaching cat.

"Panther Lily for short, just like we always wanted! I found him the day...when I came back to the castle. Down, Lily!"

The black cat ignored his mistress's orders and came straight to him. Gajeel looked him directly in the eyes, never one to back away from a challenge. The cat reached the edge of the pavilion and leaned over to smell his face, emitting a low growl. Gajeel bared his own fangs and gave a growl in return. Lily's ears twitched forward and, much to Gajeel's surprise, ran his rough tongue across his face.

He heard gasps from the crowd, but was too busy pushing off the purring hunk of muscle that was nuzzling him under the chin.

"Lily! Leave him alone!"

"It's fine...I think." If the cat would just stop licking him.

"I'm sorry, Gajeel, he doesn't usually act like this." She unsuccessfully tried pulling him away.

"How does he usually act?" He pushed the cat and after a final lick, he returned to Levy's side.

"Oh you know," she said, and Gajeel was not jealous that she was holding her cat and not him, "growling at them and chasing them around the castle while snarling until they scream. He doesn't really like people."

"Gildarts!" All of them, including the cat, jumped at the sound of the king's voice. "Care to explain why your trainee is accosting my daughter?"

Gildarts coughed into his fist, "It seems to me, Your Majesty, that the two of them knew each other from before."

"That's impossible!" Laxus shouted, "Levy didn't know any humans before she returned home."

Gajeel felt a growl forming in his throat. "Need I remind you, she was taken from her home and for your information I'm not human."

"Then who, or what, are you, young man?" Makarov said with a warning look to the prince.

Gajeel pulled back his shoulders. "Gajeel Redfox, son of Metalicana the Iron Dragon."

A wave of murmurs came from the crowd. His sensitive ears were able to pick up snatches of conversation, most of which were calling him a liar.

"If you're a dragon, prove it!" Someone shouted.

"Yeah, turn into one!"

Other voices joined the first, each one more vocal than the last. Makarov stood and lifted his hand for silence. Gradually, the crowd quieted. Levy looked between him and the king, a small frown between her eyes.

"Would you mind? It would make it easier to believe your claim."

"Don't feel like it." Gajeel crossed his arms, daring anyone to argue with him. It took a great deal of concentration for him to shift, and with the angry voices of the crowd and Levy staring at him like he hung the moon he knew he would not be able to change form.

Angry voices replaced the silence and Makarov glared them into submission.

"Gildarts! Explain." He turned and sat heavily in his chair.

Gajeel's mentor walked up to the pavilion, clasping him on the shoulder as he approached. "Your Majesty, about two years ago a small pack of dragons approached me, carrying a young man on their back. They claimed he was one of their own that had miraculously cheated death, but he had changed into a human. I have trained him myself and I have seen the magical power that he possesses. He can, indeed, change into his dragon form when he wishes."

"Father, you cannot believe what they are saying. It could be a trap-"

"I trust Gildarts and the young...man has been accepted as one of the knights, but I would like to see Sir Redfox's power for myself. He will have a trial period where he will patrol-"

"I want him as my guard!"

All eyes, including his, turned to the blue-haired princess. Her face turned an adorable bright red and she clasped her hands together in front of her.

"I-I want him as my personal guard." She murmured, chin quivering at her outburst and looking so adorable that Gajeel had to anchor his legs in place to keep himself from jumping up the pavilion and pulling her into his arms.

"But we don't know anything about him."

"I do, and I know we can trust him."

The king and his daughter quietly argued and the crowd waited silently. The panther looked around, licked his paw, and padded over to him. He pressed his head against Gajeel's chest and he stroked the cat's soft, velvety ears. Lily purred loudly, haunches thudding to the floor and practically melted against him.

"Uhhh, Shorty? Your...cat?" Gajeel grunted, the weight of the animal pushing him backward.

A burst of laughter erupted from Levy. "See, Father? Even Lily likes him." The tiny traitor made no move to help him.

Makarov groaned and waved a hand in the air. "Fine! But we will discuss this later."

Levy beamed, watching him and her cat. Gajeel tried to lean around Lily, but the feline continued to lick his face. He caught Levy's eye over the cat's ears and winked. Her face turned red and she smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He returned the smile, still trying to push the affectionate cat away. As much as he was warming up to the animal, he hoped the panther would leave him alone for at least a little while.

After all, he and his fairy had a lot of catching up to do.