I hope you had a good holiday! And enjoy the chapter!

Callista was shocked at the news that Zale and his guild mates hadn't aged since they disappeared with Tenrou Island. Before Zale could explain the situation, he noticed that Amber was hiding behind Callista's leg shyly.

"Hello there…" Zale knelt down to meet Amber at eye level. "Did Callista get a new littler sister while I was gone?"

Amber tightened her grip on Callista's legs.

"Sweetie? Sweetie, you're hurting Mommy!" Callista said.

"'Mommy'?" Zale questioned.

"I'll tell you later." Callista then petted Amber's head. "Anyway, don't worry, Amber. Zale is Mommy's friend. He won't hurt you. Hell, he probably couldn't even if he wanted to. He's far too nice."

"Thanks for the insult… And watch your language around her." Zale looked back at Amber. "So, your name is Amber? My name is Zale. I'm an old friend of Mommy. Don't be shy."

Zale held out his hand and Amber slowly and nervously reached out for it. Once their hands touched, she finally stepped out from behind Callista's legs, smiled and giggled. He smiled back as if her smile was infectious.

"My beloved Zale, you are so good with children!"

Callista looked up to see Juvia standing behind Zale.

"You're that girl I saw with Zale." Callista said.

Zale stood up. "This is Juvia. She's, um… My…" He blushed. "My girlfriend."

"And future bride and mother of your children!" Juvia gave Zale an affectionate bear hug.

"Well I'll be damned!" Callista chuckled. "Never thought I'd see the day! You were always so shy around any girl that wasn't me!"

"What can I say?" Zale rubbed the back of his head. "Juvia changed my life for the better."

"That means so much to Juvia!" Juvia squeezed Zale even tighter.

"I think my ribcage pierced my lungs…" Zale gasped for breath.

Juvia let go of Zale and he took several deep breaths.

"Zale, while you were gone the bank claimed your house, but I managed to buy all of your things at least." Callista stated. "They're at my place in Hargeon and feel free to stay until you can pay for your own place again."

"You're not living in our village anymore?" Zale asked.

"I'd rather not talk about it." Callista replied.

Zale could tell something was wrong with Callista and she wouldn't tell him no matter how much he pried, so he just let it go for now.

"Juvia, are still living in Fairy Hills?" Zale asked.

"Juvia doesn't have any money left after paying for the last few years, but any excess will be put on a tab." Juvia replied sadly. "Don't worry about me, my love. It's for the best. We wouldn't want to keep your friends up at night."

Zale was completely confused by Juvia's comment.

"Zale, you dog, you!" Callista smirked. "I didn't think you had it in ya!"

"Would someone mind telling me what they're talking about?" Zale asked loudly.

Callista and Flynn took Amber and Zale back to their home in Hargeon and escorted the latter to their guest bedroom.

"Here's your room." Flynn said.

Zale looked around at the plain and standard room, which wasn't that surprising considering it was for houseguests.

"Thank you very much." Zale said. "But I want to grab something from my belongings before finally getting some sleep."

"Don't you want to catch up on things?" Callista questioned.

"I haven't slept in three days." Zale answered. "I'm pretty exhausted and drowsy."

"Then let me get that thing for you." Callista said. "What is it, exactly?"

"It's a doll that looks like Juvia." Zale replied.

"I know exactly where it is. Be right back." Callista left the doorway to further down the hall.

Zale almost collapsed, but pushed himself against the bed with one arm to keep his body standing.

"Hey, just lie down and sleep, okay?" Flynn told him.

"I prefer to sleep in my underwear and I'm self-conscious." Zale said. "I don't care how tired I am, I don't want anyone to see my body."

"Don't you show it to your girlfriend?" Flynn asked. "It sounded like you two have a very physical relationship."

Zale's whole face turned red. "Is-is that what Juvia and Callista were talking about earlier?! We only kissed once! That's all that's happened so far!"

"Man, how naïve are you?"

"Anyway, why did Callista refer to herself as 'Mommy' to Amber? Did she get married? Or did she take her in?"

Flynn sighed. "Big Sis would kill me if I told you, so you have to keep it secret, okay?"

Zale nodded.

"Amber IS Callista's daughter."

"And what about the father?"

"… We don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know how Big Sis was able to pay for all of your stuff? She gave her body just so she could keep your memory alive. After she got everything, we found out she was pregnant. Amber's father could literally be anyone. She's also the reason Big Sis can't go back home. She thinks if she comes home with a child born out of wedlock AND as a product of prostitution, everyone will be ashamed of her, especially Mother and Father."

"… I had no idea how much she gave up for me…"

"Just… don't make it obvious that you know. I'm sure you're taking pity on her, but try to be subtle about it if you're going to do it. And we don't blame Amber for any of it. Big Sis and I love her more than anything. There's never a moment where either of us wish we wasn't born. She's family, just like you."

"Thanks, Flynn. That means a lot. And I promise not to take so much pity on Callista that she'll notice. I'm smart; I'll think of a way to repay her without her notice."

They heard footsteps walking toward them and Zale had to quickly change the subject to something else so Callista wouldn't get suspicious.

"So, any of the ladies from my guild catch your eye?" Zale asked.

"Beg pardon?" Flynn questioned.

"Hey, that's not a bad idea, Zale!" Callista said as she walked in holding the Juvia doll. "Flynn needs a date sorely and there seemed to be plenty of potential bachelorettes in your guild. So tell me Lil' Bro, did any make your pants tight?"

"Do you have to use such vulgar terms?" Flynn asked.

"Was it the buxom redhead?" Callista inquired. "The blonde bombshell? Or did you find interest in the little blue-haired girl? I won't judge."

"Perhaps we should let Zale sleep!" Flynn tried to divert the conversation topic.

"You're right." Callista turned back to Zale and handed him the Juvia doll. "Isn't it a little creepy to have a doll of your girlfriend?"

"Actually, Juvia made it for me." Zale clarified. "It was her idea, and besides, it helps me get through the rain easier. I feel… comfortable when she's with me."

"You can tell us more about her once you've gotten your sleep." Callista said before leaving the room. "Just leave your dirty clothes on the floor and Lil' Bro will take care of them. Anyway, Flynn, let's talk about those girls."

"Seriously?!" Flynn exclaimed before closing the door behind him.

Once the door was closed, Zale took off his clothes until he was in his black briefs. He sat on the bed and thought about the hygiene of his underwear. Figuring they were definitely dirty after wearing them for three or four days straight, including his time on Tenrou Island before he went into stasis, he took them off and tossed them on top of the small pile of clothes. He got under the sheets, cuddled his Juvia doll close and instantly drifted off into sleep.

In the middle of his slumber, Zale began dreaming that he and Juvia were in a hotel room at Akane Resort. Juvia was wearing only a bathrobe while Zale was wearing his normal attire.

"My love, why didn't you change into a swimsuit?" Juvia asked.

"I don't feel comfortable showing people my body."

"Even Juvia? What about on the boat ride to Tenrou Island?"

"It was extremely hot; I didn't have a choice."

"But Juvia has already seen you naked. Remember when you lost your clothes while you were bathing?"

"Please don't remind me…"

"Juvia thinks you're the sexiest man in the world! Don't feel ashamed about your body."

"It's not that I don't think myself as sexy… Well, a little, but I just don't like people seeing my skin."

"Would you be more inclined to show your body if Juvia showed you hers?"

Zale looked at Juvia and she started untying the sash on her robe. Just as she was about to remove her robe, he looked away and covered his eyes.

"Zale, you can look at Juvia. Juvia's body is yours to do with as you please."

The gentleman in him tried to keep his gaze averted, but his instincts were overpowering it and he looked back at Juvia. Before she disrobed, she stood up with an angry look on her face.

"What are you doing here, love rival?!" Juvia shouted.

"What?" Zale questioned.

Zale looked to where Juvia was shouting and was flabbergasted to see Lucy in only a pair of pink panties sitting on the nearby bed with a sheet barely covering her large bust.

"Because Zale's a closet perv with a thing for nice girls, especially if they have big boobs. But… there are exceptions."

"Exceptions?" Zale questioned.

"Why am I here?" A familiar young voice spoke from the direction of the bathroom.

Zale was hesitant to look, but did anyway and saw a naked Wendy barely covering her lady parts with her arms. He slammed his eyes shut out of exasperation.

*This obviously can't be happening…* He thought to himself.

Zale finally woke up the following morning and noticed some folded clothes sitting on the floor next to his bed along with a note. His attention went to a nearby clock which said that it was 9 in the morning. He sat up, picked up the note and read it.

Zale,

Your old clothes got eaten by moths, so Lil' Bro and I went out and got you a bunch of new ones in your size, based on the dirty ones you left on the floor. We're headed to your guild to get him a girl, so please take care of Amber while we're gone. By the way, I got you boxers instead of briefs. You'll be thanking me when you and Juvia end up making lots of babies.

Love,

Callista

Zale wasn't sure how to respond to the note. All he knew was that Callista had clearly gotten blunter with age. He simply took a shower, put on the new clothes and stretched his body once everything was on. His new outfit consisted of a dark blue, thin long-sleeve shirt with a sleeveless silver jacket and dark green pants. After he finished changing, he walked down the hall until he saw a door with a sign that said 'Amber's Room' in crayon, though the handwriting looked a bit too clean for a three year old to scribe.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Amber, it's Zale. Mommy and Uncle Flynn went out, but they left me here to take care of you until they get back. Do you want anything for breakfast?"

"… Toast, please."

"Okay, I'll get it ready."

Zale went to the kitchen and once Amber came down, he sat her down in her high chair, slathered peanut butter all over the toasted slice of bread and handed it to her alongside a glass of milk. She took a bite and happily ate it.

"Do you like it?" Zale asked.

Amber nodded and took another bite.

"Make sure you wash it down with milk." Zale told her.

As she took some sips of milk, getting peanut butter on the glass, Juvia's words from the previous day rung back into his head.

*'Zale, you are so good with children'…* He thought.

He looked to Amber again and smiled upon seeing her happy face. It almost felt like he could feel an imaginary child tugging his leg and it would look like a miniature version of himself only with Juvia's blue hair.

A/N: Managed to get this done in a day! Whew! I can't believe it's already been a year since I started this story, though I wish I could update it a little quicker. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and had a wonderful holiday! Stay tuned for next year! … You know? As in January 2016, not December 2016.