Chapter 2: New Friends, Old Friends

Lexi stared into the mirror of the bathroom in Lucy's home, looking at her new guild mark on her right shoulder blade, green in color.

"Wow I really made it," she smiled softly at her reflection. "What would everyone say back home." She changed into her pajamas.

She walked out into Lucy's bedroom, toweling her hair dry. "Hey Lucy-eh?!" Her eyes flew wide as she saw people in Lucy's room, one was Gray and the other was the pink haired man from before, a blue cat sitting next to him. "She didn't mention any guests," she sweatdropped.

"Hey Lex-why are you guys here?" Lucy said in a defeated manner.

"Oh you know, just hanging out." Gray said nonchalantly.

"Gray your clothes," Lucy sighed setting a tray down on her table. "Might as well enjoy, Happy, Natsu."

Gray scrambled around for his pants. All the while Lexi stood there frozen, cheeks red.

"Lexi come here," Lucy touched Lexi's shoulder, said girl flinched slightly. "Let's talk in here," she pulled the other girl into the bathroom. "What's up? You did this back at the guild."

"It's um...it's Gray," Lexi stuttered. "He looks the same...y-you all do." She stared into Lucy's brown eyes.

"Do you know Gray?" Lexi nodded silently. "We were in a time warp, we haven't aged since that day seven years ago." Lucy sighed.

"All this time," Lexi gave a relieved chuckle. "I always thought if I met him again all he'd see is a little girl, like back then...but I'm actually older than him." She gave a slightly watery smile. "Not that it matters he seems involved already, there's no room for me."

"What?" Lucy was so confused. "Do you like him?" Lexi blushed in response. Lucy started to giggle uncontrollably. "I knew that look you had at the guild was familiar..."

"You have an unrequited love as well?" Lexi asked, Lucy only gave a small smile. "I've liked him since we met, 17 years ago...I was four at the time...but he was so cool. When he got into Fairy Tail I could watch him from so far away. Now I get the chance to see him again...but I know he's got so many friends, what's one little girl to him-"

"Stop," Lucy shook her head. "Talk to him, see if he remembers, you won't know until you try."

"Are you sure?"

"We're friends now right?" Lexi nodded, Lucy smiled brightly. "Then let's get back out there."

Lexi sat next to Lucy as she and the two boys laughed about a recent mission they'd gone on.

"So Luce, who's your friend?" Natsu asked nodding to Lexi.

"Oh this is Lexi," she nudged said girl.

"Hi, it's nice to meet the famous Salamander," she smiled at Natsu, who gave her one of his famous grins.

"Ah so you're a fan?" He winked at her, Lucy rolled her eyes.

"I think she's got her eye on someone else," she flicked Natsu on the arm.

"Hey, you're so mean Luce." He pouted childishly.

"So Lexi, got a last name?" Gray spoke up which caused her to blush.

"Um...Violet," she said hoping he remembered her family name, since he was good friends with her older brother.

"Sounds kinda familiar," he rubbed his chin, trying to put her face to the name.

"Well..." She glanced at Lucy who gave her an encouraging smile. "We've met before, a long time ago."

"We did?" He asked surprised.

"You might remember my brother or my sister better," she smiled slightly. "I was pretty young when you guys knew each other so I'm not particularly memorable."

"Your brother or sister?" He closed his eyes for a bit. She noticed then he had a scar above his left eye, and wondered how she got it. "Jackson," she was pulled out of her thoughts at the name. "You're Jackson's little sister," he gave her a bright smile. "Yeah I think I remember now, you and Lumenia would follow us around like kittens." Lexi blushed at the comparison. Her sister had always been anything but a kitten.

"You remember then?" She asked shyly. "It was pretty long ago."

"How long ago?" Natsu asked his eyes wide in wonder.

"About seventeen years, give or take." Gray shrugged. "You sure grew up."

Lexi giggled at him. "I'm actually older than you now. Seeing as you haven't aged in seven years."

"Yeah well," he laughed. "How have Jackson and Lumenia been doing?"

"I haven't heard from Lumenia in around eight years now," she frowned at that. "But Jackson just had a baby with his wife last summer."

"Wow," he said in awe. "Sure missed a lot in the time we've been separated."

"Wait how do you two know each other, I thought your village was destroyed and you were the only survivor." Lucy said suddenly.

"They moved the year before Deliora attacked." Gray said, Lexi nodded.

"Jackson was so scared when he heard of the attack," Lexi said. "Then we heard you had made it into Fairy Tail. You don't know how relieved we all were to hear that."

"Oh wow," Lucy smiled at that. "Well now you two yet a chance to catch up, that's what matters right?" She nudged Natsu who rolled his eyes good naturedly.

"If you want to be friends with an ice stripper," he grinned mockingly at Gray.

"Wanna go flame brain!" They butted heads, glaring dangerously.

"Not in my house!" Lucy growled, eyebrow twitching.

"I think it's gonna be fun, being in Fairy Tail," Lexi began giggling, which caused the other three to turn and look at her. "And Gray, your clothes."

"Damn it!" He scrambled around again.

'Yeah, this was a great choice.'

xX Xx

Melchior stared at the back of his left hand, a green Fairy Tail emblem stared back. He still couldn't quite believe they'd accepted him in without any complaint, any normal guild would have sent him on a trial.

"Is something wrong?" He glanced up at the girl behind the counter. He swallowed hard as he recognized her.

"Oh, just thinking how this guild is so different from other guilds I've come across on my travels," he tried to cool down by staring at the countertop, and not her demure blue eyes.

"Yeah Fairy Tail is anything but normal," she smiled with a soft giggle. "You'll get into the flow of things soon."

"I've never been in one place for very long," he said softly. "So I won't be very good at...interacting with others."

"You were pretty friendly with Lexi," Mirajane smiled. "It's not hard, we're all the same underneath."

"You're a very sweet person," he noted looking up to her face. He had to fight back the blush that threatened to take over his face. "But I also sense a great power within you."

"You can sense that?" She asked in surprise, her head cocking cutely to the side. "Even when I'm in this form?"

"I can sense the life light of every living thing," he said matter-of-factly. "This whole guild is filled with overwhelming power, but yours is different, a little darker and more power to it."

"That would be because of my Satan Soul," she nodded. "I've been called the She Devil in the past." She smiled then. "But I don't use it often, so you don't have to worry."

"I'm not worried," she looked at him in shock, the look on her face indicating she thought he would say otherwise. "It's very intriguing. Would you be able to tell me how to get some money quickly?"

"Oh, um," she glanced around, until she landed on another white haired girl. "Lisanna!"

The younger girl bounded over, smiling brightly. "What is it sis?"

"Could you show," she looked blankly at Melchior, a blush on her cheeks.

"Melchior," he said helpfully.

"Show Melchior the request board, please."

"Sure, follow me," she lead Melchior away from the bar. He glanced back once, to see Mira with her back turned slightly hunched over. "So new member huh?" She giggled as he looked at her quickly, pink dusting his cheeks. "Big sis is the one who takes care of requests for master, so when you find one bring it to her."

"Thanks Lisanna," he smiled at her kindly.

"Have fun," she waved as she hurried off once more.

He looked up at the board, trying to find the perfect mission that would give him enough money to do what he planned.

"Ah! Here's a good one," he pulled it off and hurried back to Mira. "I choose this one."

Mira looked at the request. "Ok," she stamped it and made a magical copy. "Good luck."

"Thank you," he hurried from the guild.

xX Xx

Lexi looked over to the bed where Natsu and Lucy had taken to playing cards while she and Gray caught up. Natsu was now passed out, Happy sleeping on his stomach and Lucy on his shoulder.

"That's so cute." She giggled quietly, glancing at Gray. "Oh I never asked, what magic do you use?"

"Hmm you never did ask," he smiled at her, putting a fist into his open palm, cold air swirling around it. "I use ice maker magic," he opened his fist to reveal a small ice Violet on a chain.

Lexi could feel her heart began to thud in her chest, she hoped he couldn't hear it.

"Here," he took her hand and placed it in her palm. It was cool to the touch, but not overly so. "That won't melt unless I will it to, or I die."

"Thanks," she smiled at him. "It's so pretty."

"Well every Violet I've ever seen is," her heart sped up again and her face heated up. He then glanced at his watch. "Oh I should go before Erza sees I'm here, that would not be good." She noted his slightly fearful look, which made her giggle. "Before I do though," he rubbed the back of his neck slightly awkward. "The next time I go on a mission, mind coming with me?"

"Really...you want me-?" She felt lighthearted. 'But what about that woman I saw?' She wondered. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he smiled coolly at her. "Having a good friend along will be awesome, plus you can see what team Natsu can do."

"Ok," she nodded with a bright smile. "Sounds fun."

"Well have fun with the snoring," he laughed as he turned to walk to the door.

"W-Wait," she said suddenly moving after him.

"What is it?" He turned back slightly, and without thinking she leaned up and pecked his cheek.

"Thanks," she smiled her hand still wrapped around the flower pendant. "For everything." She turned and moved back over to the bed where her bag was.

Gray stood there for a bit longer, shocked his hand reaching up and touching the place her lips had touched. His face felt warm as he shook his head and headed out the door.

All the air left Lexi's lungs as she felt him leave. "Why did I do that?" Her heart beat erratically as she unrolled her sleeping bag. She laid down and stared up at the ceiling, hand resting over her heart. 'How will I be on a mission though, I'm not even sure I'll do it right.' She shook her head, closing her eyes. 'I'll think about it when that time comes.'