Chapter 60

Jude Heartfilia was under siege and holed up in his office. He scowled at the group of men standing before him, the leaders of the mercenaries that he'd hired to keep him and his property safe. They were the best of the best, the most highly trained soldiers he could hire... and they had failed him. They couldn't hold off these pests, and now they were all holed up in his estate with him, eating his food, sharing his space, breathing his air. If he didn't need them so much, he'd be done with the lot of them. Useless, is what they were.

Fairy Tail had shown up far sooner than he'd expected, and in far greater number. Cobra had either lied to him or been misinformed of their numbers and method of attack. They'd been prepared to handle intruders while a frontal assault was supposed to be distracting them. This put the majority of his soldiers inside the estate. When Fairy Tail showed up and assaulted them from all sides, they could do nothing more than retreat into the estate and hole up.

Fairy Tail was going to wait them out. Starve them out, if they must. They had cut the power to the entire block, though the backup generators solve this. But Fairy Tail was smart. It wasn't just the power that they cut. They cut the phone lines, they cut the water, they cut the internet cables... Jude Heartfilia may have electricity, but without the devices he needed to call for reinforcements, he was powerless. What's more, he'd recently sent his best assassins out, telling them to do what damage they could to Fairy Tail, and to not return unless they had his daughter, the don, the don's son, or the don's daughter-in-law in tow. The assassins, of course, were on radio silence for the duration of their mission... and had no way of knowing that the estate was under attack.

Damn Cobra, this was his fault! He gave him bad information, and now he was screwed! Jude Heartfilia was backed into a corner... and he NEVER got backed into a corner. He was at a loss as to what to do. Money wouldn't get him out of this situation. Fairy Tail made it clear that nothing short of his full surrender would do... and Jude Heartfilia was no idiot. He knew that if Fairy Tail got their hands on him, he would likely be killed. Fairy Tail didn't mess around... especially when they were pissed off. Jude realized this now.

He'd made a fatal mistake.

And now all he could do was wait.

"Give me an update." Gajeel ordered nobody in particular as he looked through his papers. There were about five other people in the room, two council members and three lieutenants that were currently being liaisons to different parts of the front line. Makarov sat near Gajeel, by the desk, looking over his paperwork with him to make sure nothing was missed. Igneel was relaying information that the lieutenants were not receiving.

"No movement from Heartfilia, sir. They're holed up." one lieutenant said.

"The underground tunnels have been collapsed, sir. Guards are stationed at each tunnel, just in case, the remaining members have rejoined the main ranks." another reported.

"Two of the snipers have been taken out, three remain." Igneel added his own report. "One of ours in the special unit is down, taken to the hospital. Should I send in a replacement?"

"No, we'll hold off on that." Gajeel dismissed. "Gildarts is a pro at this, they'll be fine. We need all the men we can afford to be here. Any report on how many rations Heartfilia's got? Should I send in supplies for our guys?"

"Heartfilia wasn't expecting to be feeding several dozen soldiers." Makarov commented. "He'll run out of food soon. Water, sooner. There are reports that they'd stopped firing on our people. Probably trying to conserve ammo."

"Good. Send whatever supplies our guys need, when they need it. Money is no issue." Gajeel nodded, his eyes never leaving the reports. "Word on the injured?"

"Most are pulling through with shots to limbs and such, all recovering at Magnolia Memorial." the last lieutenant reported. "We've lost two men to head wounds, and one to blood loss."

"Sad, but it could be worse." Gajeel paused at this and gave a small sigh. He hated losing their own men, but it was just a part of life for them. They all knew what living this life could mean, the risks they would have to take. "Make sure to send flowers to their families. Any children affected, set them up with a college fund, got it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Bring any new reports to me immediately. Dismissed."

"Boy, get some rest. I've got night duty covered." Gajeel looked up as his father walked into his office. Gajeel frowned and shook his head, shooing his father away. Metalicana only scoffed at him.

"Ya can't go on like this for much longer, boy. When's the last time you got any sleep?"

"I can sleep when the war is over."

"It's been a week now. Yer gonna start slippin, making big mistakes at this rate." the don shook his head with a sigh. "Look, boy, I know how it is ta be in your shoes. Worried for the family, trying to make sure you win a war, trying to keep the ones you love safe. I did this exact thing when we forced out Phantom Lord." Metalicana explained. "And I slipped, boy. People died because of my decision, which I made while having been awake for three days straight." He watched as Gajeel took in the gravity of his words. "I didn't have help or support back then. My old man was long dead. Yours ain't. There's no shame in accepting help... even if it's just keeping things together while you get some sleep."

Gajeel didn't respond, as he was busy taking in his father's words. He knew he was right, of course... but there was so much to do, still, and this was his job. How would he be a good don if he couldn't handle a war on his own?

"Boy, this family needs you. They need you to be able to make the right call. They need you to keep them safe." Metalicana said firmly. "You can't do that if yer not taking care of yourself, too. This ain't about doin it all on your own. It's about the family. Everything is about the family."

"You're... right." Gajeel took a deep breath and looked up at his father.

"Of course I'm right." the don merely chuckled at his son. "I've been at this game for too long, boy. You've still got a lot to learn." Then he gave a soft sigh and nodded his head towards the door. "Go sleep, boy."

Gajeel didn't need to be told again. He was exhausted, physically and mentally, from this war. So he gave his father a nod of appreciation, then went to get some greatly needed sleep.

Lily was sitting in their living room when Gajeel returned to the suite, making sure he could hear Levy in case anything happened. He gave Gajeel a friendly nod when he came in.

"How is she?" Gajeel asked tiredly. He knew he probably had bags under his eyes and looked like a wreck. Damn, he needed some sleep.

"She's fine. Might have cabin fever, though." Lily gave a soft chuckle. Gajeel only nodded at this before nodding his head towards the door.

"Go sleep, Lil. We'll be fine tonight. The attackers are regrouping for the time being." Gajeel sighed. Lily just nodded and walked to the door, giving Gajeel an encouraging pat on the shoulder as he passed.

"You're gonna be one great Don, you know. Everyone can see that."

"That so?"

"Of course. Your father's extremely proud, even if he doesn't say it to your face." Lily grinned. "Levy says that he won't shut up about you." This made Gajeel smile a bit. His old man was really that proud of him? Mavis, hearing that almost felt like a weight was lifted off of him.

"Thanks, Lil. Needed ta hear that after all this." Gajeel sighed heavily as the weariness settled on him yet again. "Go rest up. Tomorrow's probably gonna be a big day." Lily nodded and left this time, and Gajeel went into the bedroom. Their bedroom was the most fortified, when it came to the windows. Wooden boards weren't good enough, so thick metal sheets had been set up, welded around the outside of the windows. They could be cut down after the war but, for now, they were a permanent fixture. Anything to keep the next don and his wife safe.

Levy was sleeping peacefully on their bed, a small smile on her lips as she had happy dreams. Gajeel smiled down at her for a moment before he changed, stripping down to his boxers. He crawled into bed behind her, pulling her flush against him. He placed a few kisses along her neck and shoulder as he splayed his hand out over her stomach. No child was there yet, at least not to their knowledge yet, but he knew how badly Levy wanted to be a mother. He wanted to be a father, too. Still, he was glad he had convinced her to stop trying so hard... he wanted things to settle down some before they had any children. That way they would be safe, and he would have time to be in their lives rather than spending all day in his office. Once things were peaceful, he promised to himself that they would definitely double down on trying for the baby.

"Gajeel..." Levy's sleepy voice came as she stirred. She turned in his arms to face him, giving him a sleepy smile. "You're really here..." She said happily as she snuggled into his chest. He smiled a bit and held her close. His wife had missed him this past week. He knew she would, but he knew she would understand why he was so busy. He placed a few more gentle kisses to her neck, fully intent to cuddling her and going to sleep... but she gave a cute little moan and subtly rubbed her legs together, revealing that she'd missed him in more ways than one.

***Lemony Goodness***

"Levy, are you wet?" Gajeel grinned against her ear. Mavis, he should be sleeping right now. His body was begging him to sleep. But his wife needed him, and what harm was there in taking care of her problem? And Levy's nod only confirmed that she desperately missed his touch. Levy moaned softly when Gajeel silently slid his hand into her panties, placing more kisses along her neck. As he teased her with his fingers, he couldn't help but grin. "So fucking wet. I should fix that, huh?" he chuckled into her ear.

The next thing she knew, he'd rolled over to be on top of her, and he was kissing her hungrily. Levy kissed him back eagerly, letting her hands roam over his broad chest as he pulled at her tank top, pushing it up to her shoulders and exposing her perky breasts. He tore himself from her lips to attack those delicious peaks of hers with his mouth and fingers, loving her beautiful moans and mewls. Levy pulled her tank top the rest of the way off, then started pushing his boxers down his hips, using her feet as best as she could. Gajeel grinned at his eager wife, sitting up a bit to kick off the offending clothes. He quickly pulled her delicate panties off, tossing them aside while his wife happily trailed her hands down his chest toward her prize.

Gajeel groaned as her tiny hands wrapped around him and began to stroke him. He let her do as she pleased for a minute, enjoying having her hands on him. But he quickly realized that if she finished him this way, they wouldn't be doing much else tonight. He'd be way too fucking exhausted. So he grabbed her wrists and pinned them beside her head, grinning down at her surprised expression as he took a moment to collect himself. Moving both of her hands to be pinned above her head with just one of his, he let his freed hand trail down her curvy body. Levy moaned beautifully as he slid two fingers into her core and began to pump them in and out. He listened to her moans and mewls with a pleased grin, loving the cute expressions crossing her face as he pleasured her. And then she tensed up with a beautiful cry of his name, and Gajeel could only groan as the sound just made him even harder.

As Levy was coming down from her high, Gajeel released her hands and pulled her legs up around his waist. They both moaned as he slid right into her with practiced ease, filling her in one smooth thrust. Mavis, it had only been a week, but that was far too long for them both. Gajeel kissed his wife like there was no tomorrow as he set a brisk pace that had them both panting and on the edge very quickly. Gajeel knew he wasn't going to last long tonight, but he was determined to make his wife cum for him before he gave in. He pulled one of her legs over his shoulder, and that was it for her. Two thrusts later and she was crying his name in pure bliss. Her walls tightening around him like a vice forced him to cum, as well, and he buried his face in her shoulder as he spilled into her with a low groan.

"Fuck, Levy..." Gajeel panted against her hair, staying inside of his little wife as they both came down from their highs. As the pleasure left him and his body relaxed, he began to feel the heavy weight of his exhaustion once more. Looking up at Levy's face, he could see the sleepiness filling it once again. It was definitely time to get some sleep. Gajeel kissed her sweetly before withdrawing from her warmth, earning a soft mewl from her. She turned and cuddled into his arms as he moved to lay beside her.

"I love you." she whispered quietly against his chest. Gajeel grinned and kissed her temple as he held her close.

"I love you, too, Levy." he returned gently. "Now go to sleep. We both need it."

Guys, you got no idea how hard it was to get to a computer to put this out for y'all. Today has been ridiculous. I wanted to tidy up the ending a bit, but I couldn't even get around to that. Sorry guys!

Thanks for reading, like always! Please tell me what you think!

-Nerdy12