She sighed tiredly, treading on the darkening streets as people called their farewells for the day. It had been a long day in the library, and Levy couldn't help but feel that it was a wasted effort due to the amount of misinformation she gotten from the client. From early that morning till the moment the old woman had tapped her shoulder and told her to go home, she had scoured the entire library, searching for the clue the senile old man had given her. He had promised her a good amount of money if she could find what he needed, but had insisted that she come over regularly to chat as well. Charmed at first, she had promised that she would as soon as she found the clue. Now, all she wanted to do was rattle his old bones with a good solid script rune.

She groaned as she dragged her feet, dreading the fact that she had to finish her search at the library in the morning. It was just her luck that this old man had given her a deadline, and that the library was immense. Ordinarily, she'd jump at the chance to visit such a place as this, but she was here to work, not devour stories she was much more interested in.

As such, she glowered as she considered the fact that she didn't have as much time in this village either. 'Three days away is really not enough time,' she grumbled, folding her arms over her chest in frustration. It would've been faster if Lucy had joined her in the job, or even her boys. Hell, even Gajeel would've been handy in getting more information out of the old man. But as it were, all of them had been busy in their own jobs and missions. Gajeel hadn't even been in Magnolia when she accepted the job, having promised her that he'd be back in a week. When she offered to go with him, he merely patted her head, his fingers lingering in her blue locks longer than usual and told her to rest. Despite their last mission being tamer than normal, she had caught a cold and had been recuperating.

Finally back on her feet though, she had been restless and eager. So once she spotted the post on the job board, she had snatched it up faster than lightening. Now, she was beginning to regret not waiting for her partners. She could already feel the headache returning from the long day, and relished the less than comfortable bed back at the inn. She shouldered her satchel, breathing another sigh of exhaustion. The bed hadn't been as comfortable as it could've been cause it wasn't hers, but due to the lack of Gajeel's arms that wrapped around her every night. Or that his breathy snores weren't there to lull her to sleep, she couldn't tangle her fingers in his long hair in a sleepy grip akin to a security blanket.

He'd grumble if he ever heard that, but he'd blush when he thought she wasn't looking, and then at night tease her for using him as a blanket as he left little kisses along her body. She sniffed, wiping at the sudden tears that sprung to her eyes as she reached the inn. She missed him, and his goofiness that left her breathless in laughter. He'd become more of a mother hen when she'd gotten sick, clucking over her as she was tucked into their bed. Even Pantherlily left them alone, claiming that Gajeel could care for a whole guild with his mothering.

She'd chuckled, not minding for a bit that she had his attention all to herself during that time. She had warned him that he might get her cold, but he'd shushed her, reassuring her that his iron lungs never got sick. Now, as she stepped through the halls, she wondered how long this mission would really be before she was in his arms again. She shook her head, reminding herself that it had only been a week since she had seen him, and would be home again soon.

"Ah, miss?"

Levy paused, turning back to the innkeeper, who was rushing to catch up to her. She stretched her arm out, an envelope in her grasp. "For you, miss," she panted. Levy smiled, nodding her head in thanks as she took the outstretched message. "There's another message for you in your room," the innkeeper added, smiling mysteriously as she waved goodnight, then turned back down the hall. Levy stared after her, pondering why she hadn't given her the first message as well. Shrugging, she resumed her journey back to her room, yawning as she pulled the headband out of her hair. She'd read the messages in the morning when her head didn't threaten to implode on her on. Sleep was what she needed now, and she ignored the rumblings in her belly, too tired to even consider changing clothes to sleep.

She hadn't expected her room to be lit with candle light, or that there was roses everywhere. Stunned, Levy turned back to the door and swung it open to reaffirm the room number in hopes that she had been mistaken. But no, it was her room, and the candles and the roses weren't a hallucination. But who-?

"Gihi, looks like I actually got ya this time, Lev," came an all too familiar voice from behind the door. She gasped as Gajeel's head popped out, grinning cheekily. When she didn't move, he scoffed, then pulled her gently into the room so he could close it.

"Where... how?" She asked, unable to believe that he was there. It had to be a fever dream, he was still on his mission. But when his warm yet calloused palms brushed her forehead, she didn't deny that it was a bad dream. She breathed a sigh as his hand slid down to her cheek, cupping it gently as she closed her eyes, leaning into it.

"Yer warm," his voice became gruff, and she looked up at him, watching as his pierced brow furrowed, concern coloring his eyes.

"I'm just a bit tired, had a long day," she murmured, moving to wrap her arms around him. He snorted, wrapping her in his arms, and she burrowed her face in his shirt, tightening her grip on him.

"I take it you missed me?" He teased, poking the back of her head. She only nodded, not responding to the jab as she usually would. It was too good to be true that he was there, she surmised. She wondered if she had passed out somewhere and was having this wonderful dream, however lucid it was.

She was lifted off her feet bridal style, her satchel pulled away from her as Gajeel carried her to the bed. She chuckled as she recognized the expression on his face; he was back in mothering mode. 'Oh well,' she thought, snuggling her head under his chin. 'Better enjoy it while I still can before waking up.'

..

..

She was warmer than she remembered, and she stirred awake, wishing to go back to the lovely dream that she was having. She stretched, blinking slowly as the morning light greeted her, and she groaned, twisting to hide from the brightness of it. Her head bumped into something soft, and a deep grunt snapped her eyes open as she jerked her head back in surprise.

Gajeel's face was grimacing from the sudden head butt that she'd given his chest, and his hand was rubbing at the sore spot. She squeaked in surprise, sitting straight up as he rolled onto his back, blinking away the sleepiness as she looked around the room. The roses were still in their places, she was still in the inn of the small village, yet he was there. His guitar was propped up in one corner, and she could see his white suit hanging on the wall nearby, his hat hanging off one of the chairs. 'Did he come here just to serenade me?' She wondered, her heart beating in happiness. Tears threatened to spill over her cheeks as she turned back to him, her mind now fully alert and awake. It wasn't a dream, and she chuckled self derisively as she leaned down to kiss his brow.

"Mind if I ask what're you doing here?" She asked, brushing her nose over the silver studs. He snorted, reaching up to plant a wet kiss to the underside of her jaw. She held back a low moan; she missed this more than she ever thought she would.

"That's my line, Lev," he grumbled, pulling her down on top of him to look at her squarely in the face. She sighed, then began to explain her mission and the frustration of dealing with the old senile man who had posted the job. She moaned when she remembered that she still had a good chunk of the library left to search before his deadline was up.

"I don't know when or if I'll be able to get this done soon so we could go home," she muttered, burying her face into his chest. "It feels though he's leading me on a wild goose chase though," she muttered, her brow furrowing. She could feel the frustration already welling up in her body, stoking the headache she knew was coming. Only Gajeel's warm hand on her back calmed her, and she relaxed when he began to rub in small circles up and down her spine.

"You mean the asshole who lied on the post?" He asked casually. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide in stunned surprise.

"Lied?" She repeated dumbly. He grinned smugly as his hand slid up her back, tangling his fingers in her hair gently. "Gajeel, what did you do?" She demanded, ignoring his pleased look when she sat up abruptly, her knees on either side of him. She poked his chest sharply when he hesitated longer than she liked in his answer.

"Gihi, just got some info out of him that he wouldn't given you the normal way," he chuckled, sliding his palms over her legs. He was definitely more than pleased with himself, and his smug grin widened as she twitched when he squeezed them gently.

"You didn't beat him up, did you?" She nearly shrieked, shocked as she leaned over him, fists on his shoulders. She was annoyed with the old man, but his actions didn't warrant a punishment as severe as that, did it?

Gajeel merely shook his head, chuckling as he gazed up at her. He pulled her back to him, running his fingers over her shoulders as he peppered her chin with the lightest of kisses.

"Nah, I gave him one hell of a lecture though," he admitted, and she sighed in relief as his lips ghosted over hers. She gave in as he deepened the kiss, his palms flat against her skin as they began to wander over her body, dipping under her clothes. She moaned into his mouth as his fingers found her favorite places, stirring up a fire that she missed dearly, a fire that only he could light in her. Panting for air, she broke the kiss off and pressed her fingers over his lips.

"Gajeel, we should at least talk to the man then, and finish the job," she breathed, resisting the primal urge to roll her hips as he gripped her thighs, thumbs brushing closer to her center. Did she want them to stop? Gods no, but she had a job to finish up, no matter how the old man frustrated her. Then, they could return home and do whatever they wanted, private or public.

Gajeel only grunted, then surprised her when he rolled them over, pinning her on her back. He nipped at her fingers, then pressed his lips to her neck, lavishing her with his hot, wet tongue. She couldn't hold back the pleased keen as her hips rolled on their own accord, brushing against the hardening bulge in his pants. He groaned, and the sound melted all of her resolve, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Gihi, we'll talk to the old man soon enough," he whispered in her ear, running his tongue over her lobe. There were other places she wanted his tongue to be, and she huffed in impatience. He was right, the old man could wait while they finished their reunion.