Arriving at the guild Laxus told Juvia he wanted to go in through the back door so he could speak with the master before running into everyone else, so as he entered Makarov's office she walked into the main hall and found a seat at the bar. No one seemed to notice her enter at first, allowing her to sit back and observe the chaos around her. Natsu went table to table trying to get someone to fight him, eventually triggering a full-on brawl by tossing a stool out of anger causing the broken pieces to hit multiple guild members. She did her best to avoid looking at Gray sitting with Erza and Lucy, but he gave her a smug smile as he turned to join the brawl. Looking at the other side of the room she saw Wakaba and Macao ogling the models in Wizard Weekly, and Alzack and Bisca keeping a watchful eye on little Asuka as she played. Evergreen, Bixlow, and Freed waited by the door, probably for news of the inquiry, and to pounce Laxus the moment he entered, not realizing he was already inside.

A few moments later Makarov entered through the back hall with Laxus towering over him, "….and that is all we are going to say about that," master said with a nod and dismissed Laxus. Juvia was unsure if he saw his team heading his way, but he made a beeline for her sitting at the bar and placed a quick kiss on her cheek before pulling her up by her hand. Turning he was met with three very confused teammates and a silent guild hall. He took Juvia by the hand and led her to a table at the back of the room, pulling out a seat for her.

The first words broken through the silence were said piercingly by a certain ice mage, "oh man, that guy is in for it with her." Juvia cringed causing Laxus to bristle and he leered in the direction of team Natsu, causing Erza, Natsu, and Lucy to shoot looks at Gray who smirked and leaned back in his seat unphased by his team's scolding.

Freed was quickly closing the gap between himself and Laxus with Bixlow and Evergreen shortly behind him, and Bixlow's babies chanting 'Laxus Laxus Laxus' as they hovered. Laxus took the seat next to Juvia, casually draping an arm over the back of her seat and gestured for his team to take a seat across the table. Quickly clattering to take their spots the three of them exchanged looks and Juvia gave a meek wave. Laxus had no expression on his face as he said, "it is what it is, play nice."

Evergreen spoke, "I don't think any of us are concerned in the least about Juvia and your," she hesitated, "relationship," the last word came out as more of a question than anything. "We are, however, wondering what became of your meeting with the Master and the council."

"I can work, in a week, until then it's downtime. You can work, don't stay back because of me," he explained, "I got other things to occupy my time anyway." Pressing a kiss to Juvia's temple he glanced over and noticed Gray looking on angrily. What was that guy's problem?

Gajeel came in holding the door open for Levy who was holding their sleeping baby, Ariana, and heard an immediate yelp of excitement from her followed by the baby stirring but ultimately remaining asleep. He gave her a bewildered look before letting the door close and walking behind her. Levy headed straight for Juvia and Gajeel then noticed her sitting with Laxus's arm around her and loudly yelled, "WHAT?!" causing the baby to wake and cry, he received a smack on the arm from his wife as she scowled up at him.

Juvia rolled her eyes and stood, taking the fussing child from Levy and snuggling her close, "Hey sweet Ari, shh shh shh" she cooed to the baby, rocking her gently.

Gajeel harshly whispered, "will you please put the baby down so I can talk to you?" his words sounding calm but very angry.

Juvia rocked the baby and replied to her friend in a sing-song voice, "Auntie Juv would put Ariana down but she knows Daddy is just going to be a meanie, so Auntie Juv is gonna go make a bottle with Mommy and let Daddy cool down."

Watching Juvia walk away Gajeel snapped his face back over to see Laxus watching him with an eyebrow raised. "You done?"

"No. I am not done, that is my best friend and I don't know what you are thinking messing with her like this after I specifically told you not to," Gajeel snapped, "you have no idea what she has been through and you're gonna break that girl like everyone else did"

Clearly forgotten and completely excluded from the conversation the rest of Laxus's team slid from their seats and backed away, not wanting to pry into the boss's business or be pulled into the cloud of rage seeping from Gajeel.

"What exactly do you think I am doing to her?" Laxus asked, leaning forward aggressively, "and let me ask you this, do you want me asking her what she has been through? Because from what I saw no less than an hour ago that girl can't rehash that right now without flooding out half of Magnolia. So, I can ask her so I know," Laxus retorted, "or I can let her tell me when she is ready."

"Outside." Gajeel pointed to the door. "Now." Laxus got up and followed him, giving a quick gesture of reassurance to Juvia signaling for her to stay where she was at, snuggling the baby. As he exited the large doors of the guild hall Gajeel spoke. "I'm gonna tell you, but not because I want to, but because if you're gonna do this despite my warnings you need to know."

'Know what?" he questioned.

Gajeel reluctantly answered, "Fullbuster."

"What about him?" asked Laxus, curious about where this was going. As far as he knew Juvia had obsessed about the popsicle for a while and then just stopped one day.

"Fullbuster was an opportunistic asshole." Gajeel spat. "Turned out pretty much the entire time Juvia followed him around like a lost puppy he had her as his own little stand-by. He didn't care about her at all, but when he felt the need to get his dick wet guess who he went to see?"

Laxus then understood her unhappy reaction about his advances toward her, immediately voicing that she couldn't be a friend with benefits or one-night stand. Of course she had said that, she had been used before and was trying to protect herself. Laxus started to speak, he wanted to tell Gajeel that was not something he had to worry about but he was silenced by a hand held in the air, apparently there was more.

"I found out accidentally. Happened to need the spare key she keeps for me, her spare was hidden outside so I let myself in thinking she was gone…like she said she would be." He drew a breath, "saw a scene I can't forget. That jerk sitting there bitching at her to 'get him hard' with a fist full of her hair holding her in place, she was on her knees crying." I was livid. I fought the urge to snatch her up and turned around and walked back out the door to keep from killing him, next thing I know she is rushing out to talk to me, he stood there telling me they were just role-playing and she was fine. Looking at her it was obvious she wasn't okay with what was happening, she was shaking and splotchy from crying. I couldn't take it, I threw her over my shoulder and got her away from that situation. Back at my place I found out that it had been going on for months and he had forbidden her from talking to him any differently in the guild or mentioning their so-called relationship. He couldn't get it up on his own and would make her do all sorts of stuff until he was ready for sex. She had bruises, cuts and bites under her clothes, she probably still has scars where the worst of it was but it's always covered. Months of this and I didn't know, one thing is for sure that guy covered his tracks well, I never had any idea he had been at her place."

Laxus felt sick, rage rose in his throat and he forced himself to swallow it. "I would have killed him, hell, I still might."

"I tried." Gajeel spat "remember when he was bandaged up about six months ago? That wasn't from a job. I got suspended from guild work for twelve weeks by the old man, would have been worse but I outed that bastard for being manipulative, he argued back that she continued to let him come over so it was mutual. The whole thing got swept under the table, Master said I should understand that because Juvia refused to speak for herself and didn't want to make a claim against him that there wasn't anything he could do."

Laxus did remember Gray being bandaged up for a few weeks around that time, he had bragged about how hard his mission was and said he got injured saving people. Laxus felt the need to beat the guy within an inch of his life, he growled, "and you had to sit there listening to him play hero and say it was a mission?"

"Master prohibited me from making a scene, didn't want to draw negative press to the guild." Gajeel grimaced. "This is why I say to you will all seriousness that I will murder you if you ever lay a finger on her that isn't wanted."

Laxus thought back to his drunken advances and nodded, "I will never do anything she does not want me to do."

Clearly not wanting to think about what that might be Gajeel glanced away, "and watch Fullbuster around her, I don't trust him."

"Got it" Laxus nodded. "are we good?"

"for now," Gajeel agreed unenthusiastically.

Back inside the guild Laxus made his way over to Juvia and heard her name in conversation, "Can't believe he'd waste his time on Juvia, that woman is clearly psychotic, you saw her stalk me for months…" Gray said to Lucy.

Juvia handed Ari over to her dad and stepped back only to be pulled into a passionate kiss by Laxus, he had dipped her back and effortlessly held her in his arms. Before the two broke apart there were a few playful woops and calls from the onlookers, Laxus pulled her back onto her feet and Juvia blushed a deep crimson and buried her face in her chest. "What was that for?" she murmured.

"Oh nothing," Laxus replied glancing at Gray storming out toward the back door and then Laxus shot a scheming grin in Gajeel's direction.

Gajeel shook his head lightly and continued making faces at his daughter, Levy turned and said, "we need lunch, anyone hungry?" leading the group back to the table to get ready to order food.

Laxus looked around the guild once more before joining the group, Gray had clearly been bothered by his kiss with Juvia, confirming his suspicions that the guy wasn't over his issues with the water mage and leaving him to wonder if she was safe around that bastard.