Chapter 22

Levy stood awkwardly in the middle of the parlor, staring down at the man that was kneeling before her. Even on his knees, the man was taller than her, just slightly. She looked up at Gajeel, who was at her side, silently asking what she should do. But he was no help as he merely stared at the man on the ground impassively. She glanced at Don Metallicana, who was leaning against a nearby wall, observing. It was her decision, he'd told her, on Lily's fate. He was a loyal member, and the last member, of the McGarden family aside from her... the heir. He deemed Lily 'safe enough' to release from the cell, but his fate was still to be decided.

"I... I don't know what to do." She finally admitted aloud. Lily looked up at her and gave her a reassuring smile.

"My lady, you do not have to decide right away. I will gladly return to my cell until you decide." He told her, which made her stare at him in shock.

"Why would you do that?" she asked him with wide eyes. "Why are you so loyal to me when you don't even know me?"

"Ah, but I do know you, my lady." Lily smiled, a twinkle in his eyes. "And you know me, as well. You have just forgotten."

"I don't... understand."

"You were... four, I believe." he cocked his head and scratched his beard as he thought about it. "I had come on hard times. I was homeless, penniless, and starving. I hated the world, hated my fate, and just wanted to die. I was on my last leg when you found me." He shook his head at the memories of that hard time in his life.

"You found me on a rainy day, in an alley near your home. You gave me a kiwi. It was the first food I'd had in a week. And thenyou ran away, only to return with your mother and father. Leo and Liza, they were so kind to me.

"They fed me, gave me a place to stay... offered me a job and the protection of their family. And you, my lady... during my stay with your family, you were constantly near me, wanting to play with dolls or have me read you a book. You were such a pure thing in a world of darkness, and you restored my faith in this world. Leo and Liza saved my body, but you saved my mind. I have been devoted to your family ever since, you in particular. I was your secret guard, any time your parents needed one. I watched you from the shadows until that summer..." he trailed off, his eyes turning sad.

"The summer my parents were murdered." Levy finished quietly, and he nodded.

"They never took guards with them on your family trips. I tried to go that summer. I had a bad feeling. But they refused." Lily closed his eyes tightly with a scowl. It was clearly a painful memory for him. "When I received the news, I hurried to where you'd last been seen. There was the body of a young girl at the inn, burnt beyond recognition, that Phantom Lord had assumed was you, my lady. But she was too big to have been you. You've always been such a tiny thing." He gave her a half smile.

"I knew you were alive, and I knew you were safe from Phantom Lord. That put me at ease. But I never stopped searching for you, and now that I've found you, I would swear my loyalty and my life to you. Please, my lady, do with me what you will. Whatever will please you."

Levy looked down at him with eyes full on sympathy. He just... wanted to protect her. He wanted to find her, and he'd been searching for her all these years. She couldn't blame him or condemn him for that, even if he'd frightened her. She looked to Gajeel again, and he met her eyes. He seemed okay with everything the man was saying, and he gave her a reassuring nod. She turned her eyes back to Lily, who was waiting patiently for her response.

"I... I want you to do whatever makes you happy, Mr. Lily." Levy finally spoke. "I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything, especially your life. But, if you would like, we could be friends?"

Lily stared at her in pure awe and Gajeel smirked at her kind nature. It's part of why he loved her so much. He was fine with her decision. Lily was clearly devoted to her and, while he was wary simply because he was still a stranger, Gajeel felt like he could come to trust the man. Don Metallicana watched the scene from across the room, seemingly impassive, but Gajeel also caught the hint of a smirk on his father's face. Lily just continued to stare at the petite woman in awe until she fidgeted nervously. Then he smiled and stood.

"Well then, my lady, it would please me to be your friend and guard, if you and your husband will allow it." He bowed to her. Levy's face turned ten shades of red and Gajeel burst into laughter. He pulled an thoroughly embarrassed Levy into his arms as his laughter turned into a chuckle, hooking a finger under her chin so she would look up at him.

"Gihihihi. Guess we should tie the knot, shrimp, so I can 'allow' him to guard ya." he winked at his quite flustered girl, who just groaned in embarrassment and buried her face in his chest. Lily looked at them with wide eyes.

"You are not yet married? My sincerest apologies. I had assumed... well, er, I saw all the marks on her neck and..." Lily scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. Levy just wished she could hide under a rock, though she powered through her embarrassment enough to smack Gajeel on his chest.

"No more marks." she whined, her voice muffled by his chest. Gajeel just gave another hearty laugh and shook his head. He turned to Lily as his laughter died down, grinning at the older man who was looking a bit sheepish.

"You seem alright. If you're willing to work with someone watching you, I'll let ya guard her while I'm working." Gajeel offered Lily, who looked at him with wide eyes.

"Of course. Anything, to be able to protect her." he agreed quickly.

"Alright. Oi, Salamander!" Gajeel gave a shout, and Natsu hurried into the room. "Show him around. I want another guard with him at all times, and you or Gray with him when he is guarding Levy."

"No problem." Natsu gave a toothy grin, motioning for Lily to follow him. "C'mon big guy. Sorry for tackling you earlier. Name's Natsu, put her there..."

Gajeel watched them leave, then glanced at his father, who had yet to move. "This okay with you, pops?" Gajeel questioned. His father would have stopped him if he'd thought it was a bad idea, but he wanted to check anyways.

"It is sufficient. You were smart to keep an eye on him at all times." Metallicana commented. "I doubt we will have any issues with him, but it is better to be safe than sorry." He looked to Levy now, as she was peeking out from Gajeel's chest. "You did well, little one." He assured her, and Levy smiled at the praise. "Boy, take her to get settled in a safer room. It's been a long day, and we all need sleep now."

"Un." Gajeel nodded, releasing his girl only to take her hand in his. "C'mon, shrimp. I bet you want out of those clothes." He waggled his eyebrows at her, making her blush at his insinuation.

Though... he wasn't wrong. She'd been in the same tank top and short shorts since they left the beach house, and she hadn't had the chance to change this morning before Lily startled her and all this commotion happened. Between interrogating Lily, and telling Levy about her parents and her past, she'd had no time to change, and it was now going on 11 at night. She was exhausted and she really wanted a bath. So she let Gajeel lead her away from the parlor.

They walked in silence for about a minute before arriving at a room on the other side of the mansion from Gajeel's old room. As soon as the door was closed and locked behind them, Gajeel had Levy pinned against the nearest wall with a hungry kiss. Levy tensed at first, startled by the sudden kiss, but then she relaxed, kissing him back. They stayed that way for a good while, simply kissing. It was Gajeel who pulled away first, bringing a hand up to caress her cheek.

"Sorry, shrimp. I just really needed to kiss you." he breathed, his face still so close to hers that his lips brushed against hers when he talked. "Today has been one hell of a long day." He wasn't going to admit that being called her husband stirred something in him, not yet anyways. So he kissed her again, softer this time. This time, when he pulled away, he let her go. He nodded towards the bathroom with his head. "Go take a nice, long bath, shrimp. You deserve it after today. I'll be back with some clean clothes for you." He kissed her temple and left the room without another word. Levy just watched him leave, confused but too tired to really care. With a soft sigh she headed to the bathroom. Mavis, it had been a long day.

Hello, my friends! I am glad I was able to update, but sorry for the wait. I've been horribly sick and busy. I still don't know when my next update will be, what with finals on the way, so we are both going to be surprised at my next updates lol.

Just some background info from Lily's perspective. Hope it makes sense. I tried, really I did. Also, I hear Lily's voice in the same voice as the English dub in the anime, if that helps anyone.

Please, tell me what you think.

Thanks for reading!

-Everythingnerd12