Fairy x Adventure

by Magnafeana

In a new era after the Alvarez War, Lucy, Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail not only face new challenges but watch as their kids go on new journeys, learn new powers, and battle new enemies and old! Join Luna, Nashi, and the upcoming generation of Mages on Fairy Tail and more on their never-ending adventure!

62. Adventure 062

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any references. All original plots and characters are mine.

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In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.

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PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure, Nashi, Býleistr, and Dazzler set their sights on going to the Pleasure Palace Hotel for Justin and Honey's event! But even though Justin and Honey had everything covered, not everything goes as planned. Meanwhile, Luna's lie goes wrong when she ends up being forced into starting her training with Gale, but no matter for her, since she and Bleu are on their way to New Azalea City for some much-needed couple's time—thanks to Ena and Silver covering for her and, unfortunately, Gale too. Nashi and Tesla finally meet with their own prior connection and Nashi seeing Tesla and Jaxton makes her realize what she needs to do about her and Gary. Exes crash the party with Nik's reveal he has a son with a mysterious woman we've seen before and Saudade and Ezra's meet-up after all these years don't go exactly as either would have hoped. But new couples are born as Mary Jane and Peter seal the deal to enter a committed relationship and even Silver and Ena come to a truce. Is that a Christmas miracle or what? Luke's weirdness doesn't go unnoticed, but what will Natsu do about it? All partied out, Nashi took the time to relax with some self-lovin' that goes horribly wrong and leaves her in tears. Býleistr is there for her, but even he knows something as severe as this means whoever is after these children aren't just trying to capture them…

'I won't tell them the details, but her parents and Mirella and Kyler and Muta need to know…because these children…are in more life-threatening danger than they ever wanted.'

Oh, Nashi! Gosh, all these people have me sitting on the edge of my seat worried. C'mon, Jaxton, please don't tell me you are who I think you are!

---

BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…

Dull smokey topaz opened. Where…am I?

BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…

"Ezra…"

Beautiful eyes sullied with sadness and lifted with warmth.

BEEP… BEEP… BEEP…

Smokey topaz glinted back to life. A word trickled from cracked lips. "Saudade…"

A rustle. "You're awake, then?"

Smokey topaz shifted to the right to see Evie wide awake with her beanie and grunge t-shirt and pleather jacket. Ola had occupied a chair alongside her, but she had fallen asleep against Evie's shoulder. Evie did not want to move to disturb her girlfriend, but those pantone blues clashed with smokey topaz blankly.

"What happened?" Ezra mumbled as he tried to swallow.

Evie dipped her head down to murmur something to Ola. It was a struggle, but Ola woke herself up and blinked, confused, but the smile on her face when she saw Evie as so full of love and made Ezra want to look away. "It's nice to see you're awake, Ezra," Ola said pleasantly. She got up and stretched. "I'll go let the others know and let you two have some time alone." She was going to leave with a peck on Evie's cheek, but Evie pulled her back for a bee-stinging kiss before watching Ola walked out of the hospital room and sliding the door shut.

"You lost control." Evie got to her feet to hover over Ezra. "They found you, Saudade, and a woman named 'Tesla Greer' in the alleyway next to the hotel."

"Saudade." Ezra sat up and winced when he felt the IV. "What happened to her?"

Evie crossed her arms. "She's still in the ED," she informed. "It's just a little past three in the morning. I spoke with her boyfriend Majime. He said, since he's authorized to make decisions for her, he's having them keep her overnight under observation."

Fear took hold of Ezra. "Did I hurt—?"

"No." Evie shook her head slightly. "You didn't do anything. Majime told me Saudade's always had issues with her Magic. I mean she is anemic, has blood cancer, and she's practicing Blood Magic, ironically." She watched as Ezra grimaced. "The guards who found you will be wanting you to give a statement. Tesla gave hers and went home with her boyfriend. A Mister Yang."

"What did she say?"

Evie let out one of those sighs that meant trouble. "That I don't know," she admitted, "but when I went to visit her when she was getting discharged, she wanted to let me know she couldn't remember what happened. All she could remember was someone needed help, Saudade intervened, and she and Saudade passed out. She has no recollection of you, even after I described you to her."

Ezra closed her eyes. "I see."

Evie's nostrils flared. "I have no idea if she's trying to cover for you because she owes you nothing or if she really doesn't remember," she murmured lowly, "but what happened out there, Ezra? We found you barely conscious and your Magic levels had dropped so far, they had to pump you with concentrated Ether to sustain you from going into magical shock. Why did you think you would hurt Saudade?"

Ezra pressed his lips together.

Evie's eyes flashed to the ceiling. "I understand you don't want to tell me everything. I get it. Your relationship with Saudade was deep and intense. That's something you two shared." Hard pantone blues flashed down to Ezra. "But at the same time, I can't help but worry when you were about to ask if you hurt her. I knew you were broken up when you guys broke up. I was with you when you broke down. But what is this, Ezra? They find you with her, passed out, in an alley?"

Ezra rubbed his forehead. "I lost control," he admitted quietly. "I… I wasn't ready to see her."

"Because you're still in love with her."

Ezra cringed, but he did not deny it.

Evie walked back to her seat and slunk down into her seat. She watched him for a few moments. "Tell me something." A demand but not a hard one. Soft words. "Was she afraid of you last night?"

Ezra remembered those clear russet eyes on him. He remembered the worry, the acceptance, the sadness, the guilt, but… "No." Gentle. Remorseful.

"Was she ever afraid of you?"

"No."

"Would you ever willingly hurt her? Did you give her a reason to be afraid of you?"

Pain be damned. Ezra sat up when he felt those claws within his mind unsheathe and electric blue rounded around smokey topaz. "I would never hurt her!"

Evie did not break from her blankness, but she did not and accept his answer. "Okay." She pulled out her Compact. "Esme wasn't able to make it to the hospital. Guil is here, but Ye-ji's looking after Esme. I'll text them both to let them know you're okay. We'll make sure to get you home today. Your Magic levels are stable for the most part." She lifted her head. "I brought you some clothes. Once you're discharged, we'll head for the hotel." A few beats. "And I think it's best if you don't visit Saudade when we leave."

Ezra winced at the howl in his mind and the angered pace of paws. It felt cruel to not want to fight his sister for that right. It felt painful. But he sat back in his hospital bed and gave a nod. "Right. Okay." He then asked, "What about Tesla?"

"If she doesn't know you were there, there's no point in you trying to explain things to her," Evie explained. "But Justin and Honey are paying for Tesla and her boyfriend's hotel room and any leftover hospital bills—"

"I've got it," Ezra grunted. "I'll pay for hers and for Saudade's."

Evie did not fight him. "I'll text and let them know."

Silence spaced between them with the clicks of Evie typing out messages and Ezra trying to gather his thoughts. When he was unable to put everything he was feeling into their own category, he spoke, "You love Ola."

"I do." No hesitation. Not even a question.

Ezra licked his lips. "What would you do if you hurt her?"

Evie halted then crossed her legs. "We've all hurt the people we love, be it by choice or by accident. There's a clear difference in the two of how it happens, but, at the end of the day, I would have worked my ass off to show and tell her how sorry I am and rebuild the trust we had," she answered carefully.

"And if you pushed her away because you didn't deserve her trust or forgiveness?"

"In my eyes? That's stupid." She watched Ezra wince. "But I'm not like you, Ezra. I don't have your powers. I don't have your talent. I don't know what goes on with all the souls you collect and your relationship with them and how it affected your relationship with Saudade. If you felt the only way you could make things right was to stay away, then okay. You did it and you can't take it back. But before you went, did you at least try to explain this to Saudade, or did you leave without a good-bye."

Silence.

Evie sat back. "Then, you should know what my answer is." And that was that.

Ezra closed his eyes and turned onto his side. I'm so sorry, Saudade. A tear slipped. So, so sorry…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ima nan janai?

Meramerato tagiru

Kon'na boku ni mo hisomu seigi ga

Dou shiyou mo nai shoudou ni kara rete

Hora kidzukeba te o nigitte iru

•

Ittaizentai

Son'nani nimotsu o

Shoikonde dokoheikuno

Nee nee matte boku ni chotto azukete mite wa?

•

Nana na nana na

Nananana nana na nana na

Nanana nana na nana na

Nananana nana na nana na

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Checkout was a nightmare in the morning at the Pleasure Palace Hotel with everyone trying to either get breakfast or get out. Olivia was in the middle of checkout when a friend of her came over for a quick hug and quicker good-bye before they left. Lane Laughter was one of the two restaurants the hotel offered as she sat with a rather tall woman and they shared a nice breakfast. Orochi had befriended Pacer and both of them chatted away while Pacer's weekend fling seemed put-out that was all she was reduced to. Dazzler was sharing a mimosa with T'oree on the veranda.

Justin and Ace exited out of one of the other restaurants with Tesla and Jaxton in tow. Both couples had considerably dressed down with Ace in a crop top hoodie and Justin had his hair in a nice bun and opted for a crop top long sleeve and slim designer tracksuit pants while Tesla went for a sweatshirt dress that hugged her nicely and Jaxton was comfy in joggers and a jacket. Justin had his arm wrapped around Tesla as he murmured, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Tesla insisted, "but thank you for asking. Really, I don't remember much of what happened and, at this point, I don't want to remember much." She grinned. "I just want to get back home and make my man jealous as I fawn over hottie Joseans."

"I heard that," drifted Jaxton's mutter.

Tesla giggled, Ace smirked, and Justin tittered. "I like you," Justin decided. "I'm not as bold as you to test my man's boundaries with what he packs."

Tesla quirked an eyebrow. "And you think Jax isn't packing?"

Justin swung his head to stare pointedly at Jaxton's crotch whereas Jaxton sighed and pulled his girlfriend out from Justin's arm. "We really didn't need everything paid for us," Jaxton inserted.

"Nonsense," Justin dismissed. "It was the least we could do for you two and for Saudade and Majime." He stepped back to hold Ace's hand and ask, "And you said they're still at the hospital?"

Ace nodded and kissed Justin's shoulder. "Yes. But I let them know we'll stop by before we head to Greenheart."

"Could you let Jaxton and me know about Saudade?" Tesla piped in, concerned. "I wish we had the time to go and visit her at the hospital, but we've got to get onto the highway before traffic hits." She winced. "And I have to go into the kitchen today and tell my boss when I want to start working again…and I need to practice my repertoire for spring semester…and start lesson planning for my little flutes—"

"Take it easy," Justin insisted. "Don't stress about work too much. I need you free of any wrinkles or bags under your eyes when you come to the New Year's Eve party." He pointed at Jaxton. "Jax, you are responsible for making sure Tessie is well-fed, well-rested, and well-sexed up for my party. Don't screw this up." He covered Tesla's ears to mouth, I will kill you if you mess this up. I love her.

Jaxton offered a faint smile as he pulled Tesla more into his side and kissed her cheek. "I love her too," he murmured and took pride in her little giggle. "But if she pulls anything like this again, she might not be able to sit down at the party. And we'll only be there for a little while. We have another party to attend at a friend's house."

"Well, in that case, Tessie," Justin addressed, "you are not to give that man any reason to sneak you away at my party and fuck you senseless or finger you nor are you allowed to sneak off to give him a blow-job. Ah-ah!" He raised a finger when Tesla opened her mouth. "Or a hand-job."

Tesla pouted.

Justin relented. "But I give you full permission for any nice heartfelt make-out sessions, and you two can do wicked things in the car."

Tesla squealed and hugged Justin who hugged her back with a beam. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she crooned. She shot Jaxton a smug look. "Justin gave me permission to suck you off while you drive now so there," she taunted.

Jaxton's lips tugged into a smirk. "He also gave me permission to spread your legs and finger-fuck you while I drive."

Tesla's face dropped as Ace shook his head in amusement and she looked at Justin beseechingly. "Mama J, please take back what you said—"

"Up-bup!" Justin put a loving hand on Tesla's cheek and patted it. "Sorry, pretty lady, but them's the rules." He loudly whispered, "Just do what I do and beat him to the punch. Get your hands on that dick before he has a chance to react." He winked at Jaxton. "But honestly, you should talk more about what you'll do to her while you drive. That bluntness is sexy." He clapped his hands. "Oh, I know! You can start playing on your way back home today!"

"That's an hour-and-a-half drive!" Tesla exclaimed. She cowered at the glint in Jaxton's eyes and the evil grin Justin was giving her and took to hiding behind Ace. "Ace…!" she whined. "Make my horny boyfriend and your horny boyfriend stop this…!"

Ace patted Tesla's head. "Just accept it, little one. It won't be that bad." He murmured in her ear, "But I recommend you touch yourself before he can touch you. Drives Justin wild when he can't touch me, and Jaxton…" His voice transitioned into a low rumble. "I suspect he doesn't even like it when you touch yourself since he's a possessive man."

"He is," Tesla whispered back and locked eyes with Jaxton. A heat passed between them. "And I love it."

Ace grinned and kissed Tesla's cheek. "That's a good girl." His grin broadened when Tesla smiled. Look over at Jaxton, he jerked his chin. "You've got yourself a winner with her, Jaxton. She's a…"—he looked Tesla up and down—"sweet little one."

Jaxton met Ace's eyes and there was an understanding between them both and appreciation. "Thank you. I do and she is." His dark eyes looked predatory as he drank Tesla in. "And I'm hoping she plans to keep me."

Tesla raised a haughty eyebrow. "We'll see." She looped her arms with Ace and Justin's and pulled them down to plant a kiss on both of their cheeks. "Thank you both for everything. It was really nice to meet you!" She passed a regretful look to the stairs. "But I wish I could see Nashi before we leave…"

"You have her number," Jaxton reminded.

Tesla sighed. "I know, but I was hoping we could talk more. I texted her back I'm down for a lunch date, but…"

"She'll be at my party," Justin promised. "My friend Dazzler told me Nashi and her yummy Celestial Spirit were doing a whole teleportation thingy, so they might have left already. But never fear. She's staying at he-who-must-not-be-named's swanky condo, so Dazzler will check on her for dinner and I'll let you know."

Tesla nodded. "Thank you." She let both men go with Jaxton instantly taking both her hands and pulling her to him. Her eyes closed and her body tensed when he dropped words into her ears and laid a kiss on her lips.

Jaxton pulled away while suddenly Tesla jerked and buried her head into his chest. He nodded at Justin and Ace. "Justin, thanks for inviting us. And Ace, it was nice to meet you. Both of us enjoyed the event." His eyes flashed down when Tesla shivered against him. "And we'll continue to enjoy it."

Ace mouthed in question, Remote vibrator?

Jaxton tilted his head and pulled out a bullet remote from his pocket.

Ace gave him an OK hand signal then a thumbs-up while Justin fanned himself and mouthed, Girl! Aloud, Justin said, "Of course! Glad you both could make it! Jaxton, please bring Tesla around more. You can go do the whole straight-boys-play-outside thing with your friends, but I want this pretty lady with me because I have a feeling she is going to give me some piping hot tea. I saw her dance before everything went down last night and her ass gives me life."

"Makes me want to spank it," Ace muttered as Justin vigorously nodded and hummed his agreement. Ace's lips twitched when Tesla smothered a moan into Jaxton's shirt. "Go easy on the little one," he suggested. "It's a long car-ride. Better to draw it out and edge then let her finish too early."

It took a moment or two, but Tesla relaxed, and her shoulders drooped. Eyes wide and flustered, she shot Ace a grateful, yet shaky smile.

…until Ace added, "But I'd personally punish her if she tried to finish too early." He chuckled when Tesla scowled. "Don't look at me like that, little one."

Jaxton murmured something into Tesla's ear that had her eyes drop and she murmured a quiet apology to Ace only to make a quick remark to Jaxton that had him tense. "Thanks for the suggestion." He shared a look with Ace. "We'll have to talk soon." Both men noticed the way Tesla shied away. "She'll be more behaved by then."

"I like the little one the way she is," Ace assured.

Tesla ducked her head, but even she could not bite back the little smile on her lips.

Jaxton nodded at Ace and Justin. "You two have a safe trip back to Greenheart." He murmured into Tesla's ears and she winced, but she rested her head against him as he guided her towards the front exit.

Justin felt at ease when Ace wrapped an arm around his shoulders and reached his hand to interlink with Ace's. "You were right," Justin decided, reluctant. "He's a Primal and Daddy."

"A damn good one. And she's a beautiful little brat," Ace regarded. "When you told me he chose a BDSM suite and showed me more about him and his girlfriend, my gut told me that was their dynamic and I was right." He smiled when Justin's look soured. "Learn more about the lifestyle, baby boy, and stop watching One Year and Sixty Shades before you try to bet against me."

Justin huffed and flipped his hair. "Whatever." A thought came upon him and he smirked up at Ace. "But if I wanted to learn…"

"No."

Justin pouted as Ace led them away. "But—"

"No."

"But you go," pointed out Justin in a whine. "And we're a package deal now."

"Which is why I've stopped going," Ace reasoned. "I'm not taking you. You know how many offers I'd get asking if some girl can use her strap-on on you or if some guy can play with you? No."

"Aw…!" Justin prodded Ace's cheek. "You're so cute when you're jealous of hypothetical situations, baby boy."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Bold words for someone about to be in a car with me for a very long time."

Justin's face went flat. "Touché."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 062

Family Reunion Part II: We Wish You a Merry…

家族との最後の日！ 前に進むためには感情を出し尽くさなければならない！ 私たちはこれ以上後悔することはできない！

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

HRK!

BANG-BANG-BANG!

Esme coughed into the toilet and flushed it before she could get even more nauseous over the contents she threw up. "Go away…!" she weakly moaned.

"Esmeralda, open the door this instant," Ye-ji demanded from the other side of the bathroom. There was a stalemate. Esme had locked herself within one of the bathrooms at the Strauss-Dreyar lodge and refused to let her husband or girlfriend in with her. But that did not mean either partner would give up any time soon. "Stop being stubborn and let us in."

"No!" Esme refused. Skin on the grayish side, she sat against the wall in one of Guil's t-shirts since her other clothes had gotten ruined from her sweat and vomit. "I look h-h-hideous!"

"I don't care. Open this door now." A pause. "Don't make me get Veronika or worse—your mother."

Esme groaned and crawled her way over to the sink to rinse out her mouth. "Okay, okay, just give me a second." She was quick about rinsing her mouth before hobbling over to the door to unlock it. She scooted away from the entryway as it breached open and she tried to hide her face as Ye-ji and Guil filed in. "There. You've seen me. Can you leave me to be sick in peace?" Her head was turned, and she found herself staring into her husband's eyes and how hard they had gotten. Her bottom lip trembled. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I really do look hideous."

Ye-Ji came in with a heating pad and pressed it against Esme's stomach. "You look beautiful to us," she murmured. "You look like you're helping bring our child into the world." She nuzzled into Esme's neck. "You only look hideous when you wear cream and pearl at the same time."

Guil cracked a smile as Esme looked aghast even in her stricken state. "I did that one time!" she argued. "You can't hold it against me forever!"

Ye-ji chuckled and kissed Esme's forehead. "We won't." She shot Guil a look full of mischief. "Right, Guil?"

Guil winked.

"I feel outnumbered and attacked right now." Esme sighed when Ye-ji massaged her stomach over the heating pad. "But that feels nice."

"Better?" Ye-ji wanted to confirm.

Esme nodded as her eyes closed in relief. "Much." She peeked her eyes up at Guil. "Can I go back to bed now? I think I'll be okay for now." She lifted her arms the moment Guil nodded, and he did not hesitate to scoop up his wife and carry her out of the bathroom. Their room was across the hall from the bathroom. It was nothing fancy. Just a king-sized bed with a dresser, and LV, two nightstands, and an armchair. If it was up to Esme, the room would look like a bomb dropped on it, but Guil and Ye-ji would have none of it. Guil waited as Ye-ji got the pillows arranged and peeled back the comforter, then he deposited Esme onto the bed and made sure she was comfortable. He brought out a lemon candy for her and unwrapped it for Esme to take and suck on.

Ye-ji sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Esme's shoulder. "Does that help?"

"Mmm-hmm." Esme popped her candy to the side of her cheek. "I told you I feel better. Just tired and a little sick is all." She pouted. "I really hope this isn't an all-day thing."

"Morning sickness can go all day." Veronika entered the bedroom with a tray of scentless snacks and a mug. "I brought some bland foods and some more ginger tea," she announced. She set the tray on the nightstand and thanked Guil for giving her a bit of berth. "Whether you like it or not, Es, you look terrible and you should stay in bed." She grinned sheepishly when both Guil and Ye-ji gave her looks. "Hey, I'm her cousin. I can say this. You guys are her partners. You have to be nice to her."

"I think I'll take them over you right now," Esme said dryly as she took the mug to sip on the tea. "My OB gave me meds and everything for this."

Veronika frowned. "Anti-nausea pills help some, but they didn't help me," she confessed. "Ginger was my nausea's kryptonite in the first trimester and my mom's and Aunt Liz's. Again, it's a Strauss thing."

Esme groaned. "I hate Strauss things." She blew on her mug before taking a sip. "Speaking of Strausses, why has my little sister abandoned me yet again for her girlfriend? How are my parents treating Ines?"

"Good." Veronika shrugged. "I mean after you dropped two bombs on them, I think they can handle anything else thrown at them." She crossed her arms. "If it helps, Ines knows how to cook and I think your parents were impressed with her barista skills too. Plus, I mean, it helps Ines had Ellie taste test one of the omelets and fed it to her. You know how this family is with PDA."

Esme coughed then smiled, satisfied. "Good. No offense, but all you cousins are too damn prude about PDA—sans the twins. I mean Evie practically marks her territory with Ola and is always touching her and then when Ezra was dating the girl who just casually broke his heart, he was—"

"Esme…" Veronika warned.

But Esme saw nothing wrong with what she said. "What? She did."

"But did Ezra say that?"

Esme scowled. "No… But—!"

"Exactly. He didn't say anything which means we can't assume anything." Veronika raised an eyebrow that shut down any further objections. When Esme resigned with an eye roll, Veronika patted her shoulder. "But yes. Even the very reserved Ezra was practically humping Saudade's leg—"

"Oh, shut up." Esme half-heatedly swatted at Veronika with a little grin. "He was not."

Veronika snorted. "Okay, whatever. Everyone says you're not supposed to argue with the pregnant lady, so I'll let you get off once." She got up and dusted herself off before turning to Ye-ji and Guil. "Make sure she gets plenty of rests, rinses out her mouth after every meal and after she throws up, and make sure she stays away from strong smells."

"We will," Ye-ji assured as Guil gave his wife a long look. "We might not be that social today with her sick, I'm afraid."

But Veronika waved it off. "No need to apologize. Everyone gets it. In fact, everyone would get on your case why you're not up here dealing with Esme's crazy mood swings," she jested. "But we'll make sure to bring up whatever we cook and, only when you think Esme is okay, you guys can come downstairs."

"Glad to see the woman carrying life inside her has an opinion in all this," Esme muttered. But she could not stay bitter for long when Guil came into the bed, sweatpants and all, and spooned her, rubbing her stomach. She sighed, happy, and closed her eyes. "Ye-ji? Are you coming? Because my tits hurt like Hell."

Ye-ji looked at the pair fondly. "I have some calls to make, Esme, but once I'm done, I'll massage your chest." She shook her head when Esme let out a happy noise. Turning to Veronika, she said with a smile, "Thank you for all your help."

"No problem!" Veronika insisted. "I've been where Esme has been and if I had as much as she had, I would have been blessed. So, take care of my cousin."

Ye-ji's smile widened, "For as long as she lets us."

Satisfied, Veronika left and closed the door behind her, but much to her surprise, Nik was waiting for her. She crossed her arms at the odd expression on his face. "Esme's a little out of commission if you want to talk to her," she warned.

Nik shook his head. "No, no, it's just…" He admitted in a low voice, "Just wondering if she went through this."

Veronika softened. "Pregnancy is a different experience for every person."

Nik clenched his jaw. "I should've been there."

"Yes, but you weren't." Veronika touched his arm. "But you'll be there now. How old is he?"

"Should be turning be one or so if I'm right about all of this," Nik answered. "This is hard, Ronnie. My son is out there—"

"With his mother," Veronika pointed out gently. "I know she didn't tell you, but is your son in good hands?"

"The best," Nik admitted. "She's crazy smart and kind."

"Then, stop wasting your time being angry and start focusing your energy on approaching her," Veronika said as she pulled him down the hall. "Starting with some form of communication."

Nik sighed. "She blocked me when I tried to reach out to her before, Ronnie."

"Then try a different angle," Veronika insisted. "God knows I wish one of my kids' fathers would have tried harder for them." She stopped when Nik stopped and she hated the look in his eyes. "Nik, it's okay."

"It isn't," Nik growled. "But I promised to let it go for you and I will."

Veronika smiled. "Thank you." She pulled him back towards the stairs.

Nik smirked. "So is Captain Lates about to be their new daddy?"

A rapid blush crawled onto Veronika's cheeks as static wound around her. "You…"

Everyone paused when they saw Nik flung down the stairs, overcharged with pink lightning.

"…asshole!"

Nik twitched, drooling. "That's…"—TWITCH-TWITCH—"Ronnie for you…"

°•°•°•°

Lance shared his room with Nik and Spencer which was fine. Both men had come with the bare essentials and were fairly neat in their spaces. Lance sat on his bed with his PAL on his lap as he scanned his screen. He had divvied his screen up between looking at flights to Éirulan as well as doing more research about Baracles, God of Thunder. It took him to the lore surrounding the Goidelic religion and its gods and monsters. He found something in regard to fáirths on a Webpedia page and through the information until he saw a name that struck him.

VELEDA

Lance remembered the mystical bunny woman who had healed him. So she was some type of fáirth? Maybe Dazzler will let me go back to that place again if she is one. I have so many questions. He trickled down the list to stop in Éirulan and scanned the information provided. From what Thomas said, there's only one fáirth produced from Éirulan still alive, but… No one knows her identity. From the articles, fáirths were so rare after the fall of Mildian, they went into hiding. The Archaeology Society must offer the ones who work from them protection. But the one from Éirulan… Nothing about her is here except knowing she's a woman and she was from Éirulan.

He saw the scarce page left for what they called THE SEERESS. The only other thing on here is some reported sightings of her, but…she was always cloaked. Maybe she looks like Veleda? What if she's human? His eyes went back to the flight list. Either way…

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

"Lance?"

"Come in."

Aine opened the door. "Brunch is about to start," she told him. "I thought you'd want to come downstairs."

"In a minute," Lance told her absently. "Let me finish this."

Aine tiptoed over to him, but she did not look at his PAL screen and opted for sitting on the edge of the bed. "I thought you told me no work while we were on vacation?" she teased him.

Lance gave her a guilty smile. "I know, I know… I've just been so caught up, I guess." He closed his PAL with a sigh and set it on the nightstand.

Aine frowned. "What's wrong? Ever since you came home from your meeting at the museum, you've been restless, almost." When Lance kept quiet, Aine permitted, "I knew you were still processing things, so I didn't want to push. And I won't push if you don't want me to. But I'm here for you if you need to just talk through it."

Lance kept quiet for a few moments. "When I was unconscious back in Bellum," he began, "I had this…dream…this vision. That's the reason why I went to the museum. Levy put me into contact with a friend she has there after I told her about my vision. And what I learned there gave me more questions than answers." He gauged her face as he said, "But the one thing I do know is I need to go to Éirulan."

Aine sat back and nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?"

Aine smiled, even if it was sad. "Lance, I've always known the people around me would do bigger and better thins. My dad, my mom, Ena, Nashi, Gary, you—you're all meant for great things that Fiore might not be able to offer you. Oberon thinks I'll never understand it, but I do."

Lance launched forward to grab her hands and chuckled a little when she gave a noise of surprise as she fell between his legs and onto his chest. "I know you do," he murmured, timbre gentle. "Nothing is set in stone. Éirulan has the answers I need, but I still would have a lot of planning to do before I went there."

Aine hummed and laid her head against his sternum. "Whenever you go, I'll be here for you, waiting."

"You're not going to ask to come with me?" Lance questioned, surprised.

Aine shook her head and peeked up at him. Warm kobicha clashed with stupefied jade. "Mmm-mmm. I know I'd be in your way." She pressed a finger to his lips when he dared try to say otherwise. "Besides, we both have things we have to do. You need to go to Éirulan and figure out what your vision meant to you. I need to stay here and finish my degree and try to figure out how to repair my relationship with Ena." Guilt filled her. "I know she's always disliked me. I just want us to be in a better place without Oberon between us."

Lance stroked her cheek. "You two will get there. It takes time."

"I know." Aine closed her eyes when Lance pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Go where you need to go. I'll be waiting." Her lips twitched. "Just don't leave me waiting too long."

"I won't." Lance hugged her close. "I love you, Aine."

Aine sighed into his embrace. "I love you too, Lance."

°•°•°•°

Brunch was never a simple affair, but when was it a simple time in such a big family? Food galore had been created and doubled and spread upon the table with coffee and tea and even hot chocolate. Once prayer had been said and Ines and Ace had been properly introduced, everyone heartily dug in into their plate with conversation going around and around. Esme had joined, but she kept to a small plate with bland eggs and looked longingly at the orange spritzer her mother sipped on. Lisa-Jane sat close to Mira to ask all the questions she never got to ask yesterday and Mira seemed delighted to answer them and mindful of Veronika's watchful eye. Spencer and Ace quickly bonded and it shocked Justin and Veronika they knew each other from a club, though Veronika was further confused when neither man explained what club and Justin only winked at her. Bixslow high-fived Pacer over the pick-up line he used on his date last night while Lisanna slapped his chest even though she too was amused. Ezra was forced into conversation with his father, but he could not meet anyone's eyes.

Conversation abated when Pearson came to the dining room with a woman covered in workout pants and a long sleeve shirt behind him, eyes darting around to check the exits. Curious glances went from her to Pearson. He cleared his throat and introduced, "This is a friend of mine from college." He looked at his guest.

She lifted her chin and did not falter when two of the bruises on her face was revealed. "It's nice to meet you." Such a quiet but strong voice. "My name is Aurinia, one of the teaching assistants at Hawthorn. Thank you for allowing me into your home."

Lisanna beamed. "Well, of course, sweetie! Any friend of Pearson's is a friend to us all! Come sit! We have more than enough food!" She winked. "And more than enough gossip!"

Adjustments were made and Pearson and Aurinia sat together. Even though normal Strauss chaos called for instant questioning, everyone subconsciously knew to sit back and let Aurinia be as she nibbled at the food Pearson piled onto her plate. Attention shifted quickly to Mary Jane and Peter who sat closer together with Mary Jane giggling to herself as Peter murmured in her ear, grinning. Veronika smirked and loudly proclaimed, "So, Sprite, are you and Peter official now?"

All eyes were on the couple as Mary Jane ducked her head and Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "Um… Yeah," Mary Jane answered, timidly looking up at her father's stony expression. "He asked me last night."

Ellie was practically about to burst with joy. "So… What did he ask?"

"I asked her to be my girlfriend," Peter said as he nudged Mary Jane to face him and soft liquid gold clashed with delighted cerulean-scarlet. "And she said, 'yes'."

The entire table was filled with cheers and whoops as congratulations were passed around almost as if an engagement was announced. Peter laughed nervously when Nik threatened him to take care of his little sister for him to bite his tongue in the middle of it all while Mary Jane accepted the hugs from Veronika, Mira, and Aine. Caught up in the joy, Mary Jane looked up to single out her father, but she caught him walking away from the table with his jaw taut. Face crestfallen and eyes watering, she murmured quieter thanks to the congratulations and withdrew into herself. Veronika and Mira exchanged a look and Mira was about to move when Veronika stopped her and marched to follow her father.

Mary Jane sniffed and got up, but Mira put a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be okay," Mira murmured in assurance.

Mary Jane looked unconvinced when she felt a hand grab her own. Looking over, Peter graced her with a smile and she sighed as she leaned against him and accepted his warmth. "I hope so."

°•°•°•°

Veronika knew where to find Laxus and she detested she remembered, but she did and that was that. The porch they had wrapped around and connected with the deck, but the side of the porch was shielded in a mesh. She saw the Perench doors and Laxus was outside on the side of the porch. She waited for no one as she opened the door, went outside, slammed it shut, and turned to glare at her father.

Laxus took a moment to register it was her. "Veronika—"

"Don't," Veronika snapped, tone cold. "How dare you make your daughter feel like this, Laxus. How dare you. She looked like she wanted to cry seeing you leave when she was enjoying something happy and pure in her life and she fucking deserves for all the bullshit she's been put through."

Laxus sighed. "Veronika…"

"No!" Veronika shook her head. "You will listen to me."

Laxus stared at her before he gave a consenting nod as a gesture for her to go on.

"Mary Jane doesn't deserve you being a tyrant on her happiness because of my mistakes," Veronika hissed. "I own up to me fucking up. I did drugs. I drank. I hooked up with the wrong guys. I paid for that. But at the end of the day, I was gifted with two beautiful children I love dearly. I would one-hundred-percent change how I got them, but I wouldn't change them." She pointed at the door. "But Mary Jane was never the person I was. She has been a great daughter to you—better than you ever deserved—and here you still are, impeding on her happiness because you have it in her mind she's going to fuck up like I did." She ticked off a finger. "She has made friends with the right people." Another finger. "She focuses on her studies." Another finger. "She has a positive badass reputation. But to you, it doesn't matter. You're making her suffer for my mistakes and I refuse for you to do that to her or to my own daughter."

Something akin to shock and dismay entered Laxus' eyes. "I would never do that to Lisa-Jane."

"But you are showing me you will do that to your own daughter who warranted nothing for this treatment," Veronika retorted. "If you want to be an unsupportive father, fine. Mary Jane can date freely underneath my roof because I look at her and the type of person she is and the type of person her boyfriend is and I trust them to make good decisions and to come to me if she has questions—like a good parent should. My door will always be open to her and I will make sure she knows that. Because I can't stand to see her cry, especially if it's because of you. If you want to make someone suffer, let it be me. I can take it. I spent years being the disappointment and I'm used to it. But don't you dare make my baby sister upset like that when she needs her father in her life more than ever, Laxus."

She whipped around to open the door—

"I'm sorry." So broken. So sad. "I'm sorry for everything, Veronika."

Veronika ripped the door open, walked in, and slammed it behind her. Five steps into the hallway and she was stopped when Nik came out of the shadows. They looked at each other. No glaring. Just looked.

Nik opened his arms.

The hatred burned into Veronika's eyes melted into despair and she fell into his arms as soundless sobs left her. Nik rubbed her back. "It's okay, Ronnie," he soothed. "You did good." He closed his eyes. "I love you, kid."

But Veronika only cried.

Nik opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder to see Spencer watching the pair of them, watching Veronika. Nik murmured something to Veronika that had her wipe her eyes and peek past him to see an unreadable Spencer down the hall. She looked up at Nik and when he gave a nod, Veronika pushed away from him to run into Spencer's arms. He bent down to scoop her in his arms and carried her away.

Nik watched them leave before looking at the twin doors. With a deep breath, he decided to head to the side porch. He shut the door behind him and went into his pockets and pulled out a pack of gum. He took out a stick and offered the pack to his father. "Want one?"

"No cigarettes?" Laxus took a stick of gum.

Nik pocketed the pack and popped the stick in his mouth. "A smart woman railed my ass with all the dangers of smoking. Wouldn't let me kiss her if I smell like a forest fire."

Laxus nodded. "Sounds just like your mom."

A smirk. "Yeah. She's something."

Silence drifted between the two men as they surveyed the mountainside and the expanse of the alps. The cry of a hawk as it told the skies it had caught its prey. A family down the mountainside was enjoying the fresh snow with a snowman building competition.

"We need to talk." Nik's words. Low. Casual.

A weary sigh. "We do," Laxus agreed. "We will later."

Nik glanced over at his father and it was strange to see such a man of his stature to be so uncertain. "We good, Dad?"

Laxus snorted and looked over at his son. "Yeah, Nik." He clapped Nik's shoulder. "We're good."

°•°•°•°

Once brunch was coming down as plates were cleared and dishes were washed, most had dispersed. Peter and Elvin were talking as Pearson and Pacer inducted Peter in their Lacrima games pot. The Strauss cousins who wanted to participate were into gaming and meeting up on both Legends and A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story and, now that he was "part of the family", he was inducted onto Ezra's team for Legends and he officially joined their clan in Ghost Story. He looked over to see Mary Jane with her cousins as Ines told an embarrassing story of Ellie make a bed of roses during their passionate times. Mary Jane tried to laugh a long, but it was clear she was unhappy with locks of hair covering her read eye.

Peter frowned and looked away. What can I do to make this better? he wanted to know. 'Sweets, I know your dad doesn't want us dating, but…I want to make this work. Because I care about you and I don't want to let you go'. He sighed. I can't say something like that. Liquid gold darted over to see Mary Jane with her head down as she combed through her hair. But I have to say something.

Muttering an excuse, Peter got up and was determined to get to Mary Jane. "Sweets," he breathed and he broke a little when he saw how small she had made herself, "there's something that I need to talk about with you."

Mary Jane nodded and got up. "Okay—"

"No, Mary Jane."

Peter and Mary Jane looked to see Laxus approaching them with his scowl. "I don't want you talking with him." He stopped before the couple, eyes swinging from the broken face of his daughter then to the uncertain expression on Peter. Much to the couple's surprise, Laxus' eyes softened. "I want to talk to him." Grayed green-orange ricocheted to Mary Jane and he winked.

Mary Jane perked and tucked back her hair as she nodded. "Okay." She looked over to Peter who was not as nervous as he previously had been. "We're gonna start playing Screw Your Neighbor soon." She reached over to plant a chaste kiss on Peter's cheek. "So hurry back."

"Of course." Peter looked up at Laxus. "Lead the way, Sir."

°•°•°•°

The trails on the alps had been cleared by services all the neighbors banded together to contribute to. Fresh snow might sting the nose, but it painted the mountains in a smooth coat. A flock of long-tailed tit birds were banded together, sharing food and keeping warm. A fox scurried across the snow with a rabbit fresh in their jaws. A black vulture scoured overhead for edible and easy fresh kill. A Dacian male wolf—a large breed of wolf privy to Empathy—was wary facing off against a lone Dacian male wolf that had tried to cut off one of the youngest daughters away from the pack to take as its mate. Laxus and Peter had bundled up as they made their way through the trail, moving leisurely. It was only when Laxus got to one of the ledges with a bench was when he sat and Peter sat beside him.

Peter wanted to wait for Laxus to say something, but when he did it not, Peter took the plunge. "Mister Dreyar, I know you don't like me," he started. "But I can live with that as long as you know how much I care about Mary Jane and respect her as a person and as a Mage. I know it won't be easy with me being in school faraway and her being here, but we agreed studying would be both of our main focuses and we would come second." He looked at his lap. "You're her dad and, if she can't be with me because you don't like me, I understand that. But that won't stop me from showing her I care."

Silence.

"I"—Peter froze when Laxus started—"haven't been a fair father."

Peter looked over at Laxus. "Sir?"

Laxus sat back and sighed. "Mary Jane has showed me she might be growing up, but she's growing up in the right direction. She's never given me a reason to not trust her choices."

"Then, why don't you want us to be together"—Peter shrank under Laxus' cursory glance—"S-Sir?"

Laxus looked back at the scenery. "Regardless of what my older daughter has done, it's not the main reason I'm so hard on Mary Jane now," he conveyed. "Years ago, she had a childhood love. And that love triggered something in her that I remember so clearly. Her powers… She's so emotionally involved with them. The stronger the emotional reaction, the more her powers break out."

"I know." Peter dipped her head. "I've seen it happen with…with…"

"Igneel?"

Peter flinched and nodded. "Please be honest with me, Mister Dreyar… Igneel didn't just leave just because, did he?"

Two beats. "No. He didn't."

Teeth clashed as the two wolves battled for dominance. The female Dacian wolf whined, but her mother butted her away from trying to intervene with a growl.

Peter bobbed his head. "Does Mary Jane know?"

"No," Laxus affirmed softly.

"But she cares about him."

"She does," gave Laxus.

Peter made a noise of frustration. "But she loved him."

"She did."

Peter tensed. "So the reason you don't like me is because you want them to be together? Is that it?"

"Peter."

Liquid gold clashed with grayed jade-orange.

"That's not the reason," Laxus clarified. "As a person, you're a good kid with a good head on your shoulders. You'll go far as an Alchemist. You respect your parents and my family. I respect that."

"Then, why—?"

"It doesn't matter who Mary Jane cares for," Laxus put it bluntly. "My little girl will ride or die for the ones she loves. And that causes her powers to bring her to a place that's hard to come back from." Agony crossed his face. "I can't watch her be consumed by that. Not again. The first time nearly took her away from me." He looked away. "As she matures and her feelings mature, so do her powers, whether I want it to happen or not. I have no idea what will happen to you or me or anyone else when those mature feelings come out. So it's not the fact that I don't like you. It's the fact I see how much she cares about you and I know, at some point, she'll suffer for it."

The older Dacian wolf was atop the younger lone wolf. Ear flat, the lone wolf crouched. But it was not out of submission.

Teeth gritted. "Forgive me, Sir, but I can't accept that answer."

The lone wolf sprung.

Laxus watched as Peter stood up to bow low to him.

"Your daughter is strong and passionate, but she is willing to work harder than anyone to control her powers," Peter told, still bowed. "You can't take your fears out on her for something that might happen. You have to let her grow on her own and come to you if she finds herself struggling."

Laxus saw Veronika before his eyes. "Mary Jane can date freely underneath my roof because I look at her and the type of person she is and the type of person her boyfriend is and I trust them to make good decisions and to come to me if she has questions—like a good parent should."

"I could accept you didn't like me because I don't know a lot about Magic," Peter continued and pulled Laxus to the preset. "I could accept you didn't like me because I was an ignorant Spiritless before and it's hard for a Spiritless and a Mage to be together. But now that I know, I don't plan to give up on Mary Jane. I can't do that. I care too much about her. And I won't let her go through this alone. I want to be there for her even if her powers get out of control. I want to get stronger and learn more to help her when that happens. And I will. I'll do it because I want to honor my parents and learn more about myself, but I'll do it to help Mary Jane and, hopefully, be someone worthy of being her boyfriend." He bowed lower. "I'm sorry if I'm being disrespectful, Sir. That's just how I feel."

The lone wolf was on top and pinned down the older male with a jaw on their neck. The older male squirmed and tried to snap back, but he was down.

Internally, Peter sweated as the silence continued. Crap. Why did I say all of that? I mean I meant it but he's the Thunder God. He could electrocute me into the next century. Or worse—he really could tell me to get lost and I'll never see Sweets again. Shit. I really did it this time.

"Pfft."

Peter looked up.

Laxus burst into laughter that had Peter hiding behind his arms out of fear of a sudden lightning attack. When Laxus' laughter subsided, he had a grin on his face. "You're okay, kid," he remarked. "You're okay." He got up (Peter flinched) and dusted off his pants. "You have my permission to date my daughter."

Peter slowly put down his hands. "S-Seriously?"

"Sure." Laxus pointed a finger at Peter that had the boy tensing up again. "But I'm warning you now, kid. If you make her cry or hurt her in anyway, just know I have connections to a high-profile hacker and the Magic Council and I can find you anytime and anywhere."

Peter swallowed. "Understood, Sir."

"Good." Laxus clapped Peter on the back and sent the poor bot stumbling forward. "Let's head back to the lodge before my wife submits your eulogy in the papers."

The older wolf craned its neck in submission and, with a lick to the cheek and a sniff, the lone wolf jumped off to trot to its new mate and dipped his head to let her sniff and lick his muzzle.

Peter laughed awkwardly and caught up to Laxus as they hiked back up the trail. A minute or two passed between them before Peter asked, "So…does that mean I can kiss her good night when I drop her off?"

ZZZT!

Laxus kept walking and did not care he was leaving behind a charred and charged Peter on the ground. "You're pushing your luck, kid."

°•°•°•°

Mary Jane paced back and forth on the front porch while Mira sat on the porch swing, knitting. Mary Jane kept glancing down the driveway like she was possessed. "Why aren't they back yet?" Mary Jane fretted. "What if Daddy killed him?"

"He didn't, Mary Jane," Mira said patiently. "Because I'd have to kill him."

That did not alleviate Mary Jane's fears. "What if he abandoned Peter in the mountains?"

"Then, Bixslow would find his soul and bring him here," Mira supposed easily. "Poor thing would be cold if that happens. We'd have to prepare some tea."

Mary Jane stopped in front of her mother. "Mom, this is serious!"

Mira looked up at her daughter with a sigh. "Give them time," she insisted. "I think them having a talk is a good thing." She patted the seat beside her. "Come sit."

Mary Jane took one last desperate look at the driveway, but with no sign of Peter or her father, she went over to the porch swing to sit beside her mother and tucked the red scarf around her even more. Mira continued to knit as she said, "Igneel's scarf looks good on you."

"Huh?" Mary Jane looked down at the article of clothing. "I mean I guess so." She went back to searching the horizon of the property.

"Do you care for Peter?"

"Yes." Mary Jane had no doubts. "I care about him a lot."

"Enough to one day love him?"

"Mom!" Red tainted Mary Jane's cheeks as she gaped at her mother. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Mira kept knitting. "It's just a question, Mary Jane."

Mary Jane shook her head. "I thought I'm too young to think about love?"

"You're never too young." Mira checked the length of her project. "Childhood love is just as intense as the love you have now. Yes, you mature. But it doesn't take away you opened your heart to someone."

Mary Jane was unsure where this conversation was headed. "Okay? I mean I guess so." She snuggled into her jacket. "I'm just not thinking about love. Maybe I will someday, but not right now."

Mira hummed. "Tell me this, Mary Jane. Do you believe you can love two people?"

Mary Jane's brow furrowed. "You mean like Esme, Guil, and Ye-ji?"

"No. Like falling in love for a second time." Mira further explained when Mary Jane did not understand, "Say you fell in love with someone and it ended in heart break. Do you believe you could fall in love again?"

Mary Jane cocked her head. "Why can't you?" she asked.

"You tell me," provided Mira.

Mary Jane huffed and went back to watching the horizon. "Plenty of people divorce and marry other people," she recalled. "And plenty of people have exes. Like Ezra and Saudade. I know Saudade loved Ezra and he loved her, but then they broke up. And now Saudade loves Majime."

"How?"

Mary Jane frowned. "I don't know. Maybe it's just a different love or something? You tell me all the time you can love people in different ways. Wouldn't that be the same?"

Mira finished her project and took out her needles. "It is the same." She reached over for Mary Jane's hand. "Here. This is for you." She gifted Mary Jane's wrist with a thick bracelet of violet, but the sides of it were in red and blue. Pulling it all together was a gold button so it could be taken off and put back on. "You're right. People can love differently. The way Evie loves Ola from her exes is different and same to Esme and Ezra and Veronika and Nik. You never forget your first love. You still care for them. But this new love has a new place in your heart to grow and learn." She smiled when she saw the bracelet was snug. "A perfect fit."

"Um…" Mary Jane picked at the bracelet. "Thanks, Mom, but… Why the question?"

Mira simply shrugged as she examined her other bracelet. It was a pure golden knitted bracelet with a marble button of predominant violet with red and blue undertones. "I just wanted you to know love in any form deserves a second chance." She raised her hand to bypass Mary Jane's scarf and go to the acorn button charm. "I want you to know you can care for another person and let them in. It's okay to do that."

Mary Jane blinked. "Mom…"

Mira glanced out to the horizon and beamed. "Looks like the boys are home."

Mary Jane brightened when she saw Peter's form trekking in the distance. "They're back!"

"Before you go…"

Mary Jane looked down to see her mother put the bracelet in her hands. "Mom?"

"Give this to Peter," Mira ordered. "You and Igneel have matching necklaces. I thought it might be time for you and Peter to have something."

Cerulean-scarlet softened. "Oh, Mom…"

"I love you, baby," Mira murmured. "Now go out there and get your man."

Mary Jane smiled and kissed her mother's cheek. "I love you too, Mom." And she was off.

Mira watched as Mary Jane hurried off the porch. Her smile softened as she watched Mary Jane rush past her father and surprise Peter with a hug. She fretted over him, but Peter only laughed, checked they still had Laxus' back and pulled Mary Jane into a kiss.

CREEEEEEEAK…

STEP… STEP…

"I want to thank you," Mira started, "for bringing Veronika home."

Laxus whipped around to witness Mary Jane and Peter and growled something. Mary Jane pulled away with an innocent pout on her face.

"It's no problem, Misses Dreyar." Spencer had made it outside with his arms crossed and was watching Laxus, Peter, and Mary Jane interact. "But Lucky decided to come home on her own."

"Oh, I very much believe you and Mary Jane and her children were big influences, Captain Lates." Mira patted the porch swing.

Spencer chuckled and sat beside her. "I'm not sure I'm as big of an influence on Lucky as you think, ma'am."

Peter must have said something because he found himself hiding behind Mary Jane while Laxus lunged for him.

"I think you give yourself far less credit than you deserve, Spencer," Mira admonished. "Whether Veronika sees it or not, she takes your words seriously."

Spencer's lips twitched into a sardonic smile. "You can see all that in three days?"

"Yes." Mira shrugged. "I raised her. She's just like how her father is. She might be stubborn, yes, but she does listen to the people she finds important."

"Now that I can agree on," Spencer concurred. "I just don't think she finds me important on that level quite yet. Agree to disagree," he offered when Mira shot him a look.

She shook her head, amused. "Always the peacekeeper. You'd fit in well here. We could use more peacekeepers. And I'm sure it helps with Lisa-Jane and Veronika's personalities." She watched as Mary Jane jabbed a finger towards Laxus which had him comically taken back that his daughter was all in his face. "Do they fight often?"

Spencer snickered. "Vanilla and Lucky definitely go head-to-head. Ivan and I divide and conquer. He calms down Lisa and I take Lucky." He shook his head. "Mom was right. That Dreyar blood is something else. I hear the Major gives everyone Hell too."

"They could always get that from me too," Mira playfully interjected. The pair shared a laugh as Laxus looked thoroughly chastised by Mary Jane. "May I ask a selfish request as a mother and grandmother?"

Spencer nodded. "I think I know what it is."

"Then do you agree to my request?"

Spencer sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I'm trying," he relayed, "but…"

Mira glanced over at him. "'But'…?"

Spencer looked away. "There is a time and a place for me to give her space. But there's a time and a place for me to push her too." He observed as Laxus apologized to his daughter who refused to accept it, even if she was smiling as he tried to bribe her. "I know she's hurting all these years from whatever went down between her and her father. But I see how he is now. I see how he's changed and how remorseful he is. I want to push her to let her kids get to know him. I want to push her to talk to him. But I keep thinking the harder I push, she'll break and I…" He snuffed out his sentence.

"No, please. Go on," Mira urged kindly. "That you…?"

"That I won't be able to be there for Ivan and Lisa," Spencer admitted. "I know I'm not their father. But I love those kids."

"I know." Mira smiled. "And I can see they love you too." She watched as Mary Jane caved to her father and seemed to be thanking him. Laxus softened and hugged her. "I will give you this little bit of advice. Even though you aren't their father by blood, we both know those kids think of you as their father figure. As their father figure, it is your responsibility to support these kids. If Lisa-Jane and Ivan want to know their family better—all of us—you should support them."

Spencer had to give at that, but then he questioned, "And their mother?"

Mira stood up and grabbed her knitting supplies. Laxus had torn away from the couple to make his way to the house. "Veronika has been afraid for a very long time," she said quietly. "It's natural she'll be afraid and resist when you push her. But in this case, I want her to push to her breaking point. I want her to tell me everything. I want her to tell you everything. I don't want her to be afraid anymore." Cerulean sparkled as they connected with grayish emerald-orange. "Make that my second request as strictly a mother. Help teach my baby she doesn't have to be afraid anymore."

Spencer opened his mouth but all that came out was a hum. He watched as Mira glided over to her husband for a sweet kiss before looking away at such an intimate scene. A pang of envy came through and he took out his personal Compact to look at the lock screen. It was a picture Mary Jane had snuck during their time in MagiaLand. They were in the middle of the Friendship is Magic show with fireworks blasting. Ivan was atop Spencer's shoulders with his eyes wide and eager. Lisa-Jane was leaning against Veronika as she pointed at everything she saw. But what made Spencer smile was Mary Jane had captured the picture the exact moment Veronika and himself locked eyes. They were about to talk about ride arrangements, but to anyone else, it looked like they shared such a fond look. And he wished it was that.

Lucky… Spencer looked up and smiled as he saw Peter and Mary Jane engrossed in each other to Mira having her hands on her husband's chest as he gazed down at her with all the love in the world. I hope one day you'll look at me like that and realize you don't have to be afraid.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Goddammit!" Pacer did not care everyone was laughing at them. He gave everyone his middle finger. "Fuck all of you!" He pointed accusingly at Penelope. "You cheated! You read my mind!"

"I did not such thing," Penelope responded in his monotone drone. "I have no reason to cheat. You are simply a bad player."

Everyone clapped and hooted as Pacer swore up and down he would get his money back. The entire family played Screw Your Neighbor and Uno in their lazy-day wear. It was a tradition and no one wanted to deviate from it. And, sure, the little ones did have help. Ivan and Spencer were paired up. Lisa-Jane was confident she could play on her own, but the twins would whisper into her ear on occasion. Bixslow had Pim, Lisanna had Pulan, and Paige had Poseidon. Eloise tag-teamed with Esme for this. Already, Freed, Ezra, Laxus, and Ines and Ellie were out of the running, and Liberty not playing due to her luck always emerging her the winner, it left a lot of family left.

"All right, pussies," Nik called as the dealer. "Pass it in. Next round."

Everyone passed in their cards as Esme got up with her ginger tea. "I think I need to lay down some more," she told everyone. "I'm out this round." She smiled when Guil halted her to scoop her up into his arms and closed her eyes as he carried her out with Ye-ji following close behind.

"We should play Uno," Ellie whined. "I already bet Pace I could beat out Elvin in the first round."

"Hurtful," Elvin muttered.

Nik shrugged. "Anyone up for Uno?" At the resounding agreements, he traded his fifty-two deck for two boxes of Uno cards. "All right, all right. Uno-secret. Quickplay halfway. We have an imposter."

Peter whispered in Mary Jane's ear, "Translation?"

"So we'll be getting seven cards, but our first card remains face down until you have Uno. Quickplay is our lightning round when we have half the players left. And 'imposter' means they have our joker card." She giggled at Peter's quirked brow. "Years ago, we got an Uno box with a purple card in it. Our joker card. It's like a golden snitch. Get that card and win Uno."

"But wouldn't Liberty—?"

"She doesn't play," Mary Jane said. "Well, she does play, but she drops out after the lightning round. Uncle Freed doesn't want to use limiters on her considering she's so young."

Nik pointed at the two of them. "Are you two on a team?"

"Yeah until halfway." Mary Jane whispered to Peter, "It gets pretty intense, so I'll teach you my tricks." She smiled coyly at him. "You can repay me later."

Peter grinned. "But of course, Sweets." He collected their first card and kept it face down. "How bad can Uno be?"

°•°•°•°

"You can't do that!" Veronika shouted in Evie's face. "Draw four fucking cards!"

Evie spat back, "No! Ola draws four cards because I have a Skip Card!"

"That's not how it works!" Veronika barked. "You draw four and that's your turn!"

"Just draw four, Eves!" Pacer shouted, vexed. "That's the rules! Stop bitching out!"

Ezra put in, "But that's not the rules! You can skip a Draw Card if you have a Skip Card!"

"We have never used that ruling!" Veronika snapped back.

Pearson gnashed, "Yes, we have! Just let it the fuck go!"

Peter sweat-dropped as he watched the entire table get up in arms as shouting matches spout off. The younger cousins stayed out of the fray and minded themselves while the older ones were not afraid to point fingers and get vulgar. This is the fifth fight that's broken out…

Peter asked Mary Jane, "How do you guys finish the game if everyone starts fighting?"

"The dealer might call a cease-fire and do a lightning round," Mary Jane relayed. "It shuts everyone up with elimination. I told you my family is, um, a bit much."

From another end of the table, Spencer sat back and watched the arguing when he saw his Compact at lit up. He took it to see an incoming text message.

⌜MESSAGES

LTC CRAGNOLINE

Call me ASAP ⌟

Spencer frowned before telling Ivan, "Hey, little buddy, mind playing on your own for a bit? I need to go to the bathroom." When Ivan nodded, Spencer got up and, after checking Veronika and Lisa-Jane's positions, he walked off in his sweats and long sleeve to go down the hall. He looked both ways before securing himself into the movie theater room. He did not wait another moment to press call on the contact.

"That was fast."

"You don't keep your superiors waiting," Spencer said dryly. "I'm surprised you're calling, Sir."

"I am too, Captain. I hope I wasn't interrupting any of your downtime."

"Not at all, Sir. What can I do for you?"

Three beats.

"We have a lead on a mole regarding the Faction," Lieutenant Colonel Cragnoline regarded in a low rumble. "And it draws connections to the Demon spotted in the USM in the dessert, the Dragon case from Valchestria, and intervention in Bellum. We received intel just this afternoon."

Spencer tensed. "Did you figure out who keeps leaving these bits of intel at our front door and ding-dong-ditching us?"

"Intelligence is putting their best efforts into it, but this person is covering their tracks."

"Or persons—"

"Captain."

Spencer closed the subject. "So we have intel. What's the move?"

"That's where the good news and bad news comes in. The good news is, you and your team will need to be back on base by the first of the new year. We still have paperwork to fill out and have approved before we can move and our intelligence agent is arranging for a fellow operative to be your guide. Plus, we have a special contact flying in to show you the upgrades you'll be receiving for this mission and to personally train you. The operative won't be available until January, or so the agent notified us."

Spencer ran a hand down his face. "All right. How long is deployment?"

"That's the bad news. Analytics projected no more than six to nine months, but… It could be longer considering this involves the Faction organization."

Spencer wanted to curse. He wanted to swear. He wanted to remind that his team had been promised two weeks before any sign of employment. But he knew his objections would be wasted. "Understood, Sir," he grated out. "Anything else?"

A pause.

"Just a reminder you'll still have your phone on deployment, Captain."

The call ended.

Spencer pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fuck," he cursed. I can't just turn down deployment. But what am I supposed to say to them? Mom's pissed enough as it is I'm never home and I promised her I'd be home at least until February. And my—Lucky's kids… Frustrated, he wrenched open the door—

—to see Nik on the other side.

Startled, Spender straightened and blurted, "Major."

Nik kept his face neutral. "You need to tell Ronnie you're going to be gone."

Spencer tensed. "I know."

Nik looked down the hallway as the arguing went into loud shouts of Uno's and others trying to topple the other to start putting down Draw Cards. "Don't worry about Ivan and Lisa. They'll survive. They're stronger than you think."

"I'm not worried about them."

Nik looked over at Spencer with a bemused expression.

Spencer rubbed his face. "Any progress I've made will be shut down."

"Maybe." Nik crossed his arms. "Ronnie's stubborn and not easy with everyone, but life made her that way. She hates everything the military stands for. And learning you're leaving for six months after she warmed up to you? Yeah. It'll leave her to hating our job."

"I'll have my Com with me," Spencer murmured, "but what if she doesn't answer? What if she doesn't let me speak to her kids?" He let out a cold laugh. "What right do I have? I'm not their father."

"No, you're not," Nik agreed. "But you're more of a father to my niece and nephew than those two fuckers ever were." He patted Spencer's shoulder. "You need to talk to her and soon. She might retreat, but you can't let shit go unsaid for six months. At the end of the day, your life is on the line for your mission. You have to get your shit together if you want to come home. Distracciǒun ōr dēth. Thẹ̄̆ lēgāciǒun es līf." And he walked away.

Spencer followed him down the hall. 'Distractions are death. The mission is life', he recited. I have to clear the air before I go, but I know Lucky won't have it. She'll tell me to leave. But… He paused to watch as Veronika bragged in Pearson's face about tag-teaming with Penelope to get him out of the lightning round. I can't leave knowing she doesn't know. Lucky deserves to know. His eyes swept to Ivan and Lisa-Jane. They may not be my family, but I'll be damned if I let them go now.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A little while later…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Esme was lying in bed, pleasantly warm between her husband and girlfriend. Guil stuck to her side as he massaged the heating pad over her stomach while Ye-ji has taken to using a cold towel for Esme's naked chest and only using light touches over the towel to help relieve some of Esme's pain. When she heard the door knock, she lazily called, "Who is it?"

"Ezra. Are you decent?"

Esme blinked herself awake. "Just a second." She looked over at Ye-ji with a cute pout. "Guess this means no more massages."

"For now." Ye-ji craned her neck to draw Esme into a gasping kiss, teasing her tongue along the seam of Esme's lips. "We'll play later." She carefully removed the towel and placed a kiss on both of Esme's nipples only to grin when Esme shivered. "I can't wait for you to try the new nipple clamps I designed once you're not as sore. Guil?"

Guil grinned and dropped a kiss on Esme's temple.

Esme groaned. "You two are insatiable." She jabbed a finger at Guil. "And that's how we have a baby inside me, so knock it off, you himbo." She smiled when Guil whispered Perench in her ear only to squirm and giggle. "Stop, stop! My brother's right outside!" She kissed Guil's nose when he pulled away with his own unhappy pout. "Like Ye-ji said, we'll play later." She tugged down the loose shirt she had stolen from Guil to cover herself while Ye-ji and Guil got up. "Come in, Ez!"

Ezra opened the door and nodded his greetings at Guil and Ye-ji who left the bedroom for brother and sister to have their moment alone. "Hey, Es." He gave a cursory look at her stomach. "Guil Junior isn't holding back anything with you, is she?"

"Don't jinx me!" Esme snapped. "I'm trying to convince my womb to give me a girl first!"

Ezra snickered as he carried himself to the bed to sit at the edge. "You could get lucky and get twins," he teased.

Esme reached over to hit her brother. "Enough with your sick jokes." She rubbed her stomach, but Ezra could see the love in her eyes. "I just want a non-gender-conforming baby," she decided. "And no gender reveal." She rolled her eyes. "Honestly. Pink and blue are overrated. Uncle Freed had it right. We'll raise the baby and they can decide what gender they want to be whenever they want to."

Ezra shook his head, amused. "God, you're going to give Mom another heart attack," he jested. "She and Aunt Mira and Aunt Liz are already gossiping about the baby shower and a gender reveal party. You know they will never let you out of it," he warned when Esme groaned and flopped on the bed. "They got on Ronnie's case they couldn't do one for her and Aunt Mira is making it her life's purpose to throw her grandchildren huge birthday parties. And you know how extra Mom can be."

"But it's my baby!" Esme whined.

Ezra eyed her stomach fondly. "I can't believe you're showing and you hid it," he remarked. Quieter, he asked, "How are you feeling with the reveal?"

Esme threw an arm over her eyes. "Better." Stable. Quiet. Surer. "I'm glad we did it towards the end of my first trimester." A bitter smile pained in grief. "Pretty sure my big mouth coming out to the family the second the OB told us we were pregnant was the reason I killed my baby the last time."

Remorse filled Ezra's eyes. "Esme…"

"Save it." Esme moved her arm as she held her stomach. "I've been waiting for you to come and see me, you ass." Her eyes narrowed. "Do I need to hunt Saudade down and—?"

"Esme." Ezra rubbed his face. "Stop it."

"She broke your heart," Esme blurted, angry. "How can you still defend her? What, I should be grateful to her for fucking you up in the head again?"

Ezra clenched his jaw. "Esme, that's not on her. That's my fault." He would take ownership of it and never forget his accountability for his mess. "All of this was my fault. Stop blaming Saudade, Es. I mean it," he added in a snarled warning and he pinned his sister when a glare when it looked like she refused to back down. "She doesn't deserve you hating her for something she didn't do."

"Ezra, again, she broke your heart," Esme reiterated in a snap. "How do you not understand how pissed I am that she did that to you?" She pulled herself up to against the headboard when Ezra pointedly looked away. "I saw how happy you were with her, Ezra," she said in a low murmur. "You were so in love with her. It was like… It was like you couldn't even breathe unless she was with you. And I know how much you made it work for her."

Ezra had enough of this. "Esme—"

"I know how much you gave for her," Esme continued. "I know how much you—"

"I said drop it, Es!" Smokey topaz wrestled with electric blue.

Esme decidedly fell quiet. Hands on her stomach, jaw taut, she let her eyes drop.

Ezra sighed and the anger in him dissipated. He dropped his head. "I broke up with her, okay?"

Esme barked an ugly laugh. "Really, Ezra? This is how far you'd go to defend her?"

"No, Esme."

Guilty smokey topaz clashed with sandy brown.

Ezra stressed again: "I broke up with her."

Esme blinked. Then, her brow furrowed. She only had one question. "Why?"

"So many reasons," Ezra whispered. "There were so many."

Esme lifted her chin. "Did you cheat?"

The very thought made Ezra growl. "Never."

"Did she?"

"No—"

"Did she abuse you?"

Ezra glared at her as electric blues threatened to come out. "Esme—!"

"Did you?"

"No!" Disgust was thrown in with that negation. "How could you think I would do that?"

"I don't." Esme sat forward. "But I'm failing to understand how and why you broke up with the girl who seemed like she was made for you. The same girl I remember you bringing into the house and you looked at her like she owned the entire world and you. You looked at her like she was your soulm—" Sandy browns widened.

Ezra could not stay on the bed and took to pacing.

Esme paled. No nausea. Nothing from the baby. From the implications. From the unspoken words. "No." She looked at Ezra's pacing figure. "Ezra, you didn't." She pled those words, but there was no comfort to them, no assurance her thoughts had not been cursed as true. "Ezra, please, tell me you didn't do that to her."

A ragged breath. Ezra whipped around…

…and the guilt was enough for Esme. "Oh god," she choked. "Ezra, you were both teenagers—"

"I know." Ezra knew. Dammit, he knew.

Tears filled Esme's eyes. She could not help it. What else could she do? "Does she know?" A half-whisper. A half-cry. "Does she know what you did?" This question a tad stronger but stilted with grief.

"It was an accident." An excuse. A laughable excuse. A whispered admittance that would hold no merit to a truth seeker.

Esme blinked rapidly and pinned back her tears. Swallowing down every ounce of sadness and remorse and grief, she lifted her chin and spoke as dignified as she could: "After what I say today, I will never speak on your relationship with Saudade again. What's done is done. You can't change it. Saudade is in a relationship and it's clear to me now why you couldn't take it. This isn't something you'll ever be okay with. You will never be ready to see her and think of her like a friend. So you need to let her go, Ezra. You need to leave Saudade alone—"

Done.

Ezra was done.

He whirled out of the room, and he did not give a damn the odd look he got from Guil when he left in a tizzy. He stomped down the steps and ignored his mother muttering for indoor movements. He declined to give a response to Ola when she saw he was charging towards an exit. He left through the living room doors to get onto the deck. The crisp bite of winter was not enough of a wake-up call to pull him through his own emotions and that was okay. His breaths came out in shuttering pants as a shaky hand dipped into his pocket to retrieve his Compact. He cradled it like his life depended on it as he unlocked it and went to his voicemails to stare at one in particular from this morning:

KITTEN

Ezra closed his eyes and could see those grating paws pace back and forth into his head. Shoving the image aside, he cracked his eyes open to press play on the voicemail. Silence followed for several moments before a throat cleared.

"Hello. I'm hoping I got to your voicemail, Ezra."

Saudade. It was her voice, weary but warm.

"I know it's been years. You might not even use this number anymore. I got sent straight to voicemail like always. Maybe you've blocked me." An awkward laugh feathered in hurt. "But, um… If you're listening to this and it is you, I just wanted to let you know I've never been upset with you. I will say it again: you've never hurt me. And I don't think you ever would. I know it's been a while and maybe you've changed, but I still see the good in you, even if you don't. You're a good man, Ezra. You're going to help a lot of people someday—I just know it. I'm sorry us meeting up again after all this time didn't go so well."

A pause. Several moments.

"Maybe…it's best if we don't ever try to meet up again."

There it was. The pain. That burning pain that felt like you were bleeding from the inside out.

"I'm sorry." A shaky breath. The sign of a sob. "I just… I'm sorry, Ezra."

The line went dead.

Ezra trembled as he keeled over the railing. Tears flooded down his cold-stained cheeks with no remorse as he gritted his teeth to suppress his own cries, his own grief. But the more he suppressed it, the more it craved to be seen, to be known. His eyes snapped open as wild electric blues consumed him. A snarl rumbled from his throat and he dropped his Compact to take off into the snow with a leap over the railing. With each stride, his Magic wildly pumped in his veins and his ears were in tune with the tearing of his clothes and shoes. Human feet were replaced with unearthly large paws. He hunched forward as he strode forth on all-fours. Canines elongated until they saw over his jaw. Nose stung with winter's crisp scent, he bounded and leaped over the fence until he was entrenched in the wintry forest. Unhinged steps imprinted into the snow and cracked eyes and little care was there for the animals roughly disturbed. None made a sound towards him. They felt threatened, but even they recognized submission and silence was better than a hiss and a possible vengeful about-face and a claw to the throat.

Saudade… Ezra felt lost in his despair. I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…

A deep snarl barreled out of the monster's chest as he scaled up a hill and brushed past trees sprayed in snowflakes. It brought itself to the top, but it did not care about the land or the view or the people. Head thrown back, a woeful song left its maw, low and drawn-out. If it cared, it would have heard those Dacian wolves from the distance howl back their own song of comfort and secondhand grief. To the sun, to the moon, it howled and howled its tale of deep-seated loss and heartache.

I'm sorry… Saudade… I'm sorry…

A lavender falcon screeched as it circled overhead and captured the monster's attention as it abruptly ended it song. It watched as the falcon swooped down and Magic consumed its form to shift it. Landing on the ground stood a juvenile wolf of lavender fur and those Strauss eyes, not a trace of Wild in them. It trotted over to the monster and offered a bowed head and a low whine and low tail, immediate submission without abandon. The monster sniffed it and huffed, satisfied. The wolf sat back on its haunches and lifted its head…

…and gave a woven song steeped in grief for its kin.

The monster lifted its nose to the air and took up its song once more, of love and of loss. It held nothing back. There was nothing to hold back.

Saudade, I'm sorry… Please… Never forgive me for what I did to you.

°•°•°•°

Veronika had Ivan on her hip as she looked out the giant window in the great room of the lodge on the first floor. She listened to the song of the wolf and the monster with open ears and sad eyes. Oh, Ezra… I'm so sorry.

"Mommy?" Ivan piped. "Is that a wolf?"

"There's a wolf out there, yes," Veronika agreed, "but the monster is out there too."

"The monster sounds sad."

Veronika looked over at her son in disbelief. "How can you tell?"

Ivan just shrugged and rubbed his eyes. "I'm tired, Mommy."

Veronika stroked his hair. "Why don't you go to your room and get int bed and I'll get your drink and come downstairs so we can check your sugar, okay?" She set down her son and watched him scamper off before going in her own direction with one more glance outside. Ezra…

Veronika moved towards a hallway when low murmurs caught interest in her. She moved closer to recognize them. Nik and Laxus? And the Captain? She moved closer to the dual doors in the hallway where the voices sprung, a pair of carved sliding doors.

"…serious about this?"

"Yes. I am."

Veronika pressed gentle hands upon the door and inched them apart just a tad so she could see into the office with one eye. The office was as big as an entire one-bedroom apartment with shelves built into the wall and a few cabinets as well. An LV was mounted over an electric fireplace that coveted a couch, a grandfather chair, and a coffee table with its own tray and tea set. The books and little trinkets on the shelves were donated from the old owner who was privy to nonfiction, autobiographies, and medical and law books. Unless the guest requested it, the office was locked when anyone rented the lodge.

Veronika caught Nik was up and pouring himself a bourbon. She saw Spencer's profile from the low lit of the electric fireplace, brooding without a drink in his hands. Laxus nursed his own heavy drink as he sat at the desk, disheveled and tired. He ended up shaking his head with a sigh. "A kid, Nik. A kid."

Veronika near jolted. Nik told Laxus?

"I know." Nik took a swallow of his bourbon before he went back to sitting on the couch. "Mom's going to kill me."

Laxus shook his head. "Your mother has been hoping you'd start a family." He raised his glass to his lips and took a gulp. "But I think she has hoping she'd at least be there for your partner and grandchild since she wasn't there for Veronika."

Nik sat back. "I know." A softer affirmation. "It's not like I planned it like this."

"Sometimes, the best things that happen to us aren't planned," Laxus said. "But we have to take accountability for it." He raised his eyebrows. "And you're sure the mother is capable?"

"Absolutely." No hesitation held Nik back. "I know she wasn't keen on kids when we dated, but I've got intel she's great with him." He knocked back the rest of his drink with a rough cough. "I should have more about my son next week. Then, just have to figure out my angle."

"Don't be too aggressive," Spencer forewarned. "Mothers are a lot fiercer than fathers. She'll be protective of her son. In her eyes, you abandoned her and she was left to have her son alone."

Nik scowled. "If she hadn't left the hotel room and blocked me, I would've been there for her," he growled. He sprung up to pace the length of the office. "Why didn't she tell me she was pregnant? Why did she leave? We have a son together. Did she really think that little of me? I know she hated I was in the military, but I would've been there for her and our son." He shook his head as he slammed his drink down onto the desk. "I could have provided for her and him. Why would she hide this from me? What did I ever do or say that made her think I wouldn't want to be around for my son?"

Laxus decided to ask, "Even with the paternity test saying you're the father, will you take her to court?"

"You shouldn't." Spencer spoke up this time as he observed the flames. "Get a lawyer, yes, but don't take her to court yet."

Laxus arched an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you'd say that."

Spencer shrugged. "If she's willing to settle everything through a lawyer with visitations, another paternity test, and child support, there's no need to continue to drag her to court." He tipped his head towards Nik and observed him through those cool gunmetal dark blues. "Do you think she'll put up a fight?"

Nik ground his teeth. "She might," he reluctantly admitted. "She's a bullheaded woman. She's kind and nice, but she makes sure people don't walk over her." He raked a hand through his hair. "I just can't figure out why? Did she really hate the military that much she'd keep my own kid away from me?"

"And you're sure she wouldn't do anything malicious?" Laxus wanted to check. No accusation; this was a simple question. "Some parents might wait years later, then they file against you and sue for unpaid child support. Other parents will sap you dry of every jewel outside of the child support for you to get visitation rights."

"She isn't like that." Nik lifted his chin. His words would not break. He meant them. "She's got a good heart, Dad. Yeah, she left me and disappeared, but I remember Emma having the most beautiful soul."

"People change," Spencer added in, wary. "And a child changes a lot in a person, especially a single parent."

Nik whipped around to glare at him. "The Hell would you know about that?" he snarled. "You don't even have kids."

Gunmetal dark blues darkened even further. "No, I don't have kids," Spencer ground out. He would not lose his temper. Always below the surface would his rage be. "But I've been around Lucky and her kids long enough. I knew how she was before and how she is now. She's changed. She will do whatever it takes to keep those bastards out of her children's lives and keep them safe. And she did it all alone. You don't know what this 'Emma' has been through when she left you. You don't even know why she left. Just be careful how you take steps. One wrong step and you might not see your kid again."

Pale greens glowed with orange lightning. "That a threat, Captain Lates?"

Spencer did not budge from his collected attitude. "No, Major. It's a piece of advice. Take it or leave it."

Nik looked like he wanted to argue some more, but he shook his head and helped himself to another drink. Laxus took interest in Spencer. "Now that we're without the family around, I have to know: how long have you been around my daughter and my grandkids?"

"I met her and her kids two years ago at a mandatory have-fun," Spencer answered as honestly as he could be. "We didn't get off to the best start"—he lifted his chin when Nik snorted into his next drink—"but I've known her and her family ever since."

Laxus took this into account as he sat back in his chair. "And you know the fathers of Lisa-Jane and Ivan?"

Spencer tensed, but he nodded. "I do." And that was all he offered about them.

Laxus did not press. "Well then. I owe you much for looking after my daughter and my grandkids," he brought up. "Thank you, Spencer. I should have been there for Veronika when she needed me the most and I wasn't. I'm glad she can rely on you now for help."

Spencer's lips twisted into a small smile. "Thank you, sir, but the thanks isn't really necessary. I should be thanking her for allowing me to spend time with those kids." He locked his hands together. "I know they aren't mine, but I'd give those kids anything if they asked for it."

"And my daughter?"

Spencer laughed. "I don't think she'd want anything from me," he quipped, "but, well… If she'd let me, I'd give her anything she asked for. Even space from me if she wanted it." Gunmetal dark blues clashed with grayed greenish-orange. "I know you and Veronika don't have the best relationship, Sir. But don't lose faith. I want your daughter to be happy and free from the demons in her past. I want her kids to have a family they can depend on. And for both of those things to happen, I know you need to be involved—when she's ready," he added.

Laxus chuckled, bitter and weary. "I can accept Veronika and I will never have the relationship I have with Mary Jane," he regarded. "That's my fault for that and I take responsibility. I can just hope, one day, she can look at me and not hate me. I might not be 'Dad' to her, but I'd at least like to be her friend. And, someday, be a proper granddad to her kids."

Spencer hesitated to say his next words, but he pushed them out gently. "I think that can happen. I don't think she hates you as much as she claims, but I know she does resent past actions. But she put aside that resentment to come here knowing you'd be here. I don't care when she says her sister and her kids tricked her into coming. I know how strong Lucky is and I know she easily could have refused. She came here. Maybe this won't be the time you two reconcile and maybe there is some more time that needs to come, but she came here. That's a bigger step than she realizes."

Laxus drew himself into a brooding silence before he breached: "Do you think she'll let me be a grandfather to her kids?"

"I think she will." Those gunmetal dark blues swung to the door and latched onto teary cerulean-sunset. "But I think she's just afraid if she sees you being so loving with her kids, she'll lose her resentment towards you and want to talk things out with you. She's scared, Sir. And she's been scared for a long time."

Teary cerulean-sunset disappeared.

Spencer turned back and his stare bounced back to a contemplative Laxus as he rose to his feet. "But that's just my opinion, Sir," he reminded, courteous. "Obviously, I'm not your daughter and I've never walked in her shoes. I'm just giving my observations on everything." He nodded to both gentlemen. "If you'll excuse me. I'll leave you two to talk." He strode out of the office to slide the doors shut behind him. He moved down the hallway and paused when he caught Peter and Mary Jane alone in the kitchen. Mary Jane was softly giggling as she fixed them both some snacks with Peter behind her, murmuring words in her ear.

It looked like Spencer was found out when Mary Jane peeked up and seemed a little mortified at his presence. "Oh, hi, Spencer!" she sputtered as red blossomed on her face and she jerked out of Peter's reach. "Sorry. Do you need to use the kitchen?"

Spencer's lips tugged in a smile as he shook his head. "No. I'm actually looking for your sister. Do you know where I can find her?"

"Oh, you just missed her," Mary Jane told him. "She took one of Ivan's drinks. She's probably downstairs checking his sugars."

"Thanks." Spencer turned, but he paused and added, "And congratulations, you two." His smile widened as he left and heard both of their thanks drifting out of the kitchen. He opened the door to the basement and shook his head in amusement when he heard Mary Jane's giggles again. "Young love," he murmured as he jogged down the steps. "Nothing beats that." He was careful where he stepped. The children had made a bit of a mess during their stay with toys and game pieces everywhere. He nodded his greetings to those downstairs, but he kept moving until he got to the children's room. The door was halfway open and he heard murmuring. Checking inside, he saw Veronika was kneeling beside Ivan in his bunk bed as he laid down with his drink half-gone.

Ivan noticed him and brightened upon seeing him. "Mister Spencer!"

Spencer winced when Veronika paid him no mind, but he gave a smile to Ivan. "Hi, buddy." He entered the bedroom and went over to Ivan's bunk. He kneeled beside Veronika. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Ivan announced. "Still a little tired, but Mommy says I should be fine after I drink some juice." He looked towards his mother for approval. "Right, Mommy?"

"Right, baby." Veronika bobbed his nose and smiled when he laughed. "Finish your juice and in fifteen minutes, we'll do another test. If your sugars are all good and you're up to it, you can go out and play some more. I'll be right back in fifteen. Captain Lates and I need to talk."

"Okay, Mommy." Ivan went back to slurping his drink.

Veronika carried the entire glucose kit with her as she stood up and walked away, Spencer on her heels. It would seem her room was conjoined with the children's room, a hidden master bedroom with a four-poster queen-sized bed, it's on LV, and obvious touches this would have been where the nursemaid or nanny would have slept to be close to the children. It even came with a mini-fridge and its own microwave and sink. Veronika busied herself straightening up the glucose kit.

Spencer decided to take his chance. "I didn't peg you as the eavesdropping type, Lucky. Didn't have anything to say?"

"What could I, a mere civilian, say when you seemed to already know everything, Captain?" Venomous sarcasm seeped in each of Veronika's words.

Spencer ignored the acidity of her tone. "I apologize if I overstepped—"

"There's no 'if'." Veronika turned to face him, chin up, arms crossed, eyes ablaze with ire. "You did, Captain Lates. You overstepped when you forced my kids and I to stay with you two years ago. You overstepped when you came on this trip. You overstepped when you told me how I should raise my kids with Laxus. And you overstepped just upstairs. But what do you care? Bulldozing your way through my life and ruining countless other innocent lives is your job, after all."

Spencer locked his jaw. "I don't ruin lives, Lucky." A cool tone. The emotions always just below the surface, but they would never take the bait to breach. "I'm not here to ruin your life or take control over it."

"No?" Veronika stormed up to him and looked him dead in the eye. "You really think you haven't ruined everything?"

"I don't," Spencer answered. "But if you think I have, fine. Tell me how I have ruined it."

Veronika hissed, "You should have stayed out of my way two years ago. But you didn't and now look at what I have to deal with. You invaded my trip with my kids in MagiaLand, you're constantly hovering over them and coming to Lisa's performances and Ivan's always asking about the day you can have dinner with us—"

"How did I ruin your life, Lucky?"

"You're not stable!" Veronika blurted in a near-shout as she pressed a finger onto his chest. "You are not the stability they need. I am. I know how the military works. You're here for one minute and gone the next. You think my kids will survive that? They were fine before you. They had me. They knew I was always going to be there for them and then—! And then—! And then you show up out of nowhere and you're giving me kids all this false hope you'll be there, but you won't be! You will never be there when they need you and they shouldn't need you! They need me!"

Spencer delicately took hold of Veronika's wrist and kept those calm gunmetal dark blues locked onto her glistening cerulean-sunsets. "How did your father ruin your life, Lucky?"

The first tear was shed.

"He can't change." A hoarse whisper. A plea, almost, like she was desperate to believe her own words. "He can't…" Veronika trembled. "He humiliated me. He made me feel like I was never the daughter he wanted. He can't…" She shook her head and retreated into herself as she wiped away her tears. "He can't change."

Spencer would not let her go into her own thoughts. "Lucky…" He guided her gaze back to his own. "I know you're scared—Hey…" He smoothened his hand to her cheek when she rolled her eyes and tried to look away. "You can deny it all you want. I know you're scared. You're scared the man you hated for so many years might actually regret what he did and want to apologize and show you he's sorry and show you how he's grown and want to repair what was lost."

Veronika rolled her lips and her eyes fluttered to the ceiling. "Lisa-Jane's father contacted me last week."

The shock nearly had Spencer let her go. "What?"

"It was just an email." Veronika wiped away the silent tears that slipped from her. "He kept going on and on how he changed and was a better person. But"—she sniffed deeply—"I've heard all of this before. I was…stupid when I had Lisa-Jane and it was just her and I. Her father came crawling back, saying he changed an-an-and he wanted to be a dad to Lisa-Jane and start our relationship again." She snorted and thumbed away more tears. "I was stupid and hormonal and I thought he meant it, but he didn't. He just wanted another fuck in before he went back on tour and he knew I'd cave."

A million things wanted to leave Spencer's mouth from curses to questions, but he reigned it in. Now was not the time for any of that. "Is that why you won't talk to your father? Lucky," he pleaded softly when she turned away from him.

"I've been around the block to know talk is talk," Veronika muttered, vehement. "Apologies and goodwill mean nothing. Just like with Lisa-Jane's father and Laxus and you—something will give and everything goes to shit."

"You don't know that—"

"Don't tell me what I don't know," Veronika snapped. "You have no right to tell me anything."

"You're right," Spencer acquiesced with a note of apology. "I don't. I'm not you and I've never been in your position. I don't have that right. All I'm saying is I understand you are hurt and were hurt and you will still hurt."

"But you're still going to ask me to try and play nice with Laxus just because he says he's sorry—"

Spencer shook his head. "I'm not asking for you to play nice with him," he countered. "I'm asking for you to give him a chance at being a grandfather to Lisa-Jane and Ivan. I understand your reservations about him and I won't ask you to make your peace with him or talk to him about things in the past. But if your children want to get to know their grandfather, I'm asking you to give them that right to do so." He braced himself for Veronika's furious rebuttal or even a slap in the face. So it surprised him when Veronika slump and looked like she aged ten years as her face broke.

"I'm trying," she murmured. "I know my kids what that relationship with him and I'm…trying to accept it." She looked up at him with beseeching eyes. "I promise you, Spencer, I'm trying for them. Please just leave it at that."

Spencer nodded and wrapped his arms around her to give her a kiss on the forehead. "I will," he promised. "I'm sorry for pushing you. You are a wonderful mother to your kids. I know you're doing everything right by them. You've survived two assholes and raised your kids to be strong and smart. No one should discredit that and I am certainly not discrediting it."

"I know you're not." Veronika pulled away and shame made her wince. "And I need to try and not discredit you."

Spencer furrowed his brow. "Lucky?"

Veronika sighed. "I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with. And I might have, um"—her cheeks colored—"called you a few names you didn't deserve whatsoever. But…well…" She lifted her chin and decided to bite the bullet. Hemming and hawing was not her style. "Look, you're not as bad as I thought you are when it comes to my kids. They like you and think the world of you. It might annoy me that they do, but they do and I'm forced to live with that no matter how many times I try to convince them otherwise."

Spencer's lips twitched. "My, my, what gratitude you have towards me, Lucky," he teased.

Veronika gave him a death stare. "This is as close to a thanks as you're going to get," she deadpanned. "Military or not, I could kick your ass and have you flat on your back in no time flat."

"Believe me when I say I wouldn't mind that one bit." A humorous twinkle entered Spencer's eyes when Veronika's own stare widened comically. "What's the matter, Lucky? You had so much to say to me before and I was looking forward to you getting in my face again. Cat got your tongue?"

Veronika tried several times to work her jaw and managed to blurt, "Me getting pissed at your was a turn on?" She sneered at him in disgust when all he did was grin. "God, you're such a gross perv. Why the Hell do my kids like you?

"I don't know. But I like them and I certainly like their mother," Spencer chirped happily.

Veronika's eyebrow twitched and she tried to cover her cheeks when she felt them heat and grow even redder. Damn you, body, stop reacting to this! "Quit being so bold," she snapped. "It's disturbing."

Spencer arched an eyebrow. "I never said anything about liking you romantically, Lucky." His grin broadened when he saw Veronika was in between furious and abashed. "Making all sorts of assumptions today, aren't we? What did you want me to say? That I like you-like you, Lucky?"

"Asshole," Veronika spat.

Spencer chuckled. "A little, yeah, or so my sister tells me."

Veronika sniffed and fought to regain her composure. "Well, glad we got all that figured out." She turned away from him. "I should go back to Ivan."

"Lucky." Spencer grabbed her hand. "I won't say anything to you until you're ready to hear those words," he murmured.

Veronika's spine straightened. "I'm sorry if I lead you on, Captain Lates," she said coolly, "but my kids are my priority. I don't have time for anything else."

"I know."

Veronika looked over her shoulder at him to see the sad warmth he had for her. It made her throat dry and she was forced to swallow. "Good. Then, we can agree our relationship is strictly as acquaintances for the sake of appeasing my kids," she said as stiffly as she could.

"Not even friends?" Spencer smiled. "I'm heartbroken, Lucky."

Veronika's eyes went downcast. "It's better this way," she whispered even if she heard the ache in her own voice.

Spencer did not argue. He did not puff up and demand. He simply nodded and let her hand go with the softest of caresses. "I know. I understand."

Veronika did not know what overcame her when she blurted out, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Spencer took a step towards her and lifted her chin with a crooked finger. "I'm a patient man."

Veronika snorted. "Nothing to be patient about since nothing will happen." Now she put a hand on his chest. "I mean it, Spencer—"

"That's the fifth time you've called me by my name."

Veronika blinked at such a random observation. "I'm sorry, what?"

Spencer's hand lowered to cover the hand she put on his chest. "You always call me 'Captain'. But this is the fifth time you've called me by my name," he noted. "I'd say that'd make us friends, wouldn't you, Lucky?"

Veronika pursed her lips, but she ultimately let out a loud exhale. "Fine. We're…"—she rolled her eyes—"friends. But—!" She shot him a warning look when he looked too happy for her liking. "This doesn't mean anything changes, okay? We keep it professionally around my kids."

"Friendly," Spencer amended unhelpfully.

"Yes. Friendly." Veronika said the word like it had done her wrong. She pushed away from him and dusted herself off like she was trying to rid herself of the impression he left behind. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to check on Ivan." She went over to collect the glucose kit.

"Lucky?"

Veronika fiddled with the diabetic monitor. "What now, Spencer?"

A pause. "How would you feel if I went away for a while?"

Veronika snickered to herself. "I'd be singing praises to the Lord himself," she quipped.

"Lucky."

Veronika rolled her eyes and turned around. "What—?" She was instantly taken aback by the solemn look among Spencer.

"Answer me honestly," Spencer asked for.

Veronika ran a hand through her locks. "I don't know? Lisa-Jane and Ivan would miss you, I guess, but those little traitors don't seem to mind you coming and going as long as you can call them or email them or write them letters—"

"I'm talking about you, Lucky," Spencer cut in. "Level with me. How would you feel?"

Veronika crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how I would feel. Does that satisfy you?" The answer was as honest as she felt she could be right now and making it final, she turned back to get the kit into her hands—

"I'm leaving, Lucky."

Veronika froze. Her eyes widened and she nearly voiced her question, but she sucked everything back in, took a deep breath, and straightened herself. Kit in her hands, she turned to him with a mask of indifference. "I see," was all she would offer to the conversation.

"I leave on the first of January," Spencer continued in an almost guilty tone. But he held nothing back. "My superior told me I could be gone from six to nine months, but I should have my Compact on me."

Veronika bobbed her head. "I see." She began to stride towards the door. "Well, Captain, do as you always do and explain everything to Ivan and Lisa-Jane. They'll be more than accepting of the situation—" Her words stopped when a hand wrapped around her arm. "You can let me go, Captain," she remarked, voice sharp. "I need to re-check Ivan's blood sugar, so if you don't mind…"

"Spencer."

Veronika looked up at Spencer. "Excuse me?"

"We're friends. It's 'Spencer' now, not 'Captain'." Spencer drew closer to her. "Don't do this, Lucky. Don't shut me out."

"I'm not shutting you out, friend." Veronika laid it on thick with the acid in her tone with what should have been a positive word. "I told you my kids will understand. This is your job, after all. Here one minute and gone the next. I never expected anything different." She gave him a stare that was neither resentful nor cold. It was blank. "The kids had been asking if I'd ask you if you'd join us for the holidays. I told them you'd be busy with your own family considering, but I promised them I'd ask. So here I am, asking you. They'd ever so love for you to join us for the holidays."

Spencer hardened at the vacuity in Veronika's request. "Do you want me there?"

"What I want doesn't matter—"

"It matters to me, Lucky—"

"Well, it shouldn't—!" Veronika pressed her lips together and reprimanded herself for raising her voice. She closed her eyes, took in a shaky inhale and exhale, and when she reopened them, she was back to that indifference. "It shouldn't," she said diplomatically. "But if you must know, I want my kids to be happy. But I understand if you have prior obligations."

"I told my parents I'd come to their guild for Christmas Eve brunch," Spencer informed. "But, if you want me to, I'd be more than happy to come up to the island for Christmas Eve and Christmas."

"Fine. The kids would love it."

Spencer locked his jaw and pressed, "How about I stay from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve?"

"That's fine. The kids would love to spend time with you before you disappear." Veronika pitched up an eyebrow. "Anything else?"

"No." Spencer let her go. "It's clear to me you're running scared again and you'd rather try and feel nothing than say what you really feel. I understand that and respect that. But we'll talk about this later. I'm not leaving Fiore with you shutting me out. Even if you try and take those kids away from me—"

Veronika's emotions came back so violently, tears came to her eyes as she gaped at him. "I would never do that to you—!"

Spencer ignored that as he drew in closer to keep her temper and whisper, "We will talk and work this out before I leave. I don't care what you think about my job. Those kids are my family. You are my family. And my job is to protect my family at all costs. Remember that, Lucky." He stepped away from her and left the bedroom without a glance back.

Veronika brought a hand up to cover her mouth as she begged herself not to crumble and cry. She could hear Spencer out there, murmuring happy things to her son who took them in stride. "Damn you, Spencer," she whispered. "I hate you so much."

And yet her heart felt the opposite.

°•°•°•°

Pearson was in his bedroom as he tried to sort out his clothes and the gifts he had gotten into his suitcase and backpack. Aurinia was his only company during his packing. Since Pearson's trip into Greenheart shopping center, he had gladly purchased her a duffel bag filled with clothes and hygienic products and she was fitting in her own workout pants and sweater. She kept to herself on the bed as she watched Pearson mutter to himself and scratch his head over which bag to put what in.

Her mouth opened. "May I ask you a question?"

Pearson snapped his head up. "Sure. Shoot."

Aurinia looked at her lap. "Why did you save me?" she wanted to know. "It's been bothering me for a while now. You know next to nothing about me. I don't understand why you would help me."

"That's not true." Pearson managed to find a spot for his t-shirts. "I know you're a teaching assistant at Hawthorn for my religious studies and philosophies course. I know you're a grad student. I know you're originally from Ishgar and not the USM. And"—he smirked—"I know when you're mad, you have an accent."

Aurinia arched an eyebrow. "I have an accent?"

"Yup. You do." Pearson's smirk broadened. "And between you and me, the guys purposefully piss you off with dumb questions just to hear it." When Aurinia took no humor in it and it seemed to trouble her further, Pearson softened. "It's okay to have an accent. I have an accent. Everyone does. Meidilands have all sorts of weird accents, but we're the weird ones since we're from a foreign country."

"What does my accent sound like?"

Pearson frowned. "I know its Ishgaran, but I can't really pinpoint it. It's really faint." He was about to say more when there was a knock on the door. He got up to tend to it. "Lance, what's up?"

"I know Pacer stole them," Lance grunted. "He's distracted with games, so I'm sorting through his crap until I find it."

Pearson snickered and moved away for Lance to be let in. "You're welcome to find it. But Pace is pretty thorough about where he hides everyone's stuff."

"Yeah, I know," Lance gritted. "But what the Hell does he need my condoms for?" He took to rooting around Pacer's belongings without abandon when he noticed Aurinia. "Sorry about this," he apologized. "I promise you I'm a lot nicer than this. Every year we're here, when it's towards the end of our vacation, Pace takes to hiding something from everyone, and this year, he decided to be a cock block."

Aurinia dipped her head with no smile. "It's all right."

Lance stepped over Pacer's mess to go to Pearson's—now Aurinia's—bed and held out a hand. "I know you introduced yourself down there, but there are a lot of us. The name is Lance Dreyar. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Aurinia eyed his hand. "Aurinia." She reached for his hand. "It's a, ah…pleasure to meet you as well." She clasped his hand with this—

ZZZT.

Lance drew back on impulse and guilt flooded him. "I'm so sorry!" He looked at his hands. "I don't know why that happened! I normally have so much more control over my lightning from shocking random people." He sounded perplexed at his own error. "I haven't shocked a random person in the last decade or so."

"Oh, please, don't worry about it," Aurinia quickly dismissed, eyes staunchly on him. "Everyone has their days, I suppose."

Lance was unconvinced as he stared at his hands. "Yeah, I guess…"

"Found them!" Pearson emerged from Pacer's atrocity of clothing and knickknacks with a box in his hands. "Wow, you think highly of yourself, dude. And they're flavored too?" He shook his head while Lance stormed over to him. "Now I see why a girl as beautiful as Aine stays with you. Even if you did wet the bed until you were—"

"Tell Pacer to stay out of my stuff," Lance growled with a warning glare. "I can cock-block him all the way from Fiore and Aunt Liz wouldn't want to know about the other extracurricular activities he does." He spared Aurinia a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Aurinia." And he left muttering curses and threats.

Pearson sighed. "Doesn't he know this is thrill Pace lives off of?" he muttered. He turned back to his suitcase. "Anyways—"

"May I ask another question?"

Pearson chuckled as he threw in one of his gifts into his suitcase. "You don't have to ask that every time," he told her. "Just ask me. Shoot."

"Did you mean what you said at brunch?"

Pearson furrowed his brow as he debated where to put the books he had received. "Did I mean what?"

"That I am your friend."

"I mean, yeah." Pearson decided the books would go into his carry-on. "You're my friend."

"Why?"

"Why?" Pearson echoed. He looked up at her with a funny expression on his face. "Are we not friends to you?"

Aurinia lowered her gaze. "I don't have a lot of friends," she admitted in a voice too small for Pearson's liking.

"What?" Pearson abandoned his packing to go over to the bed. "That's totally not true," he argued as he sat beside her. "I see you all the time at night on campus surrounded by people—"

"They aren't my friends." Aurinia winced and drew up her knees to her chest. "The people you probably see me with are the students in my graduate classes. I take evening classes so I can continue my TA work in the mornings and then work on my graduate thesis in the afternoons. I've never really talked to anyone in my classes unless I needed to. And I don't think they'd even know who you are talking about if you brought up my name."

Pearson felt guilt punch him in the gut. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Aurinia shook her head only slightly. "It's better that way. Friends were not my forte to begin with." She placed her chin on her knees. "And the friends I did have only used me for what I could offer them in return."

"Then, they were never your friends," Pearson inserted. "Friends don't use each other as a means. They should think of each other as an end."

Aurinia looked over at Pearson with a gleam in her eye. "Categorical imperative – second formulation." She tipped her head. "Impressive."

"I know I look hot, but I do have some smarts," Pearson teased. "But it has merit to it. Any friendship should never be looked as a transaction or an exchange. There shouldn't be a 'you scratch my back, I might scratch yours'. The relationship should be empathetic and deep and about supporting each other towards the other's goals." He scratched his cheek. "Freshman year was rough for Pace and me to figure that out. People used you for connections and party invites. It wasn't about genuine camaraderie or liking each other. All people cared about was who could give them better weed or cut them a deal on addies or whatever. It's easier for me to figure out the intentions of people since I have my Soul Magic to fall back on, but for Pacer?" He sighed. "It's a struggle. And it sucks even more because I can't tell him all the time about someone's intentions."

Aurinia failed to understand. "But why?"

"Because I can't." Pearson cracked his knuckles. "Pacer made it clear when we were kids I was to stop babysitting and controlling him when I kept trying to warn him of people with something bad in their souls. My Magic lets me see the soul in its form and understand a person's personality and health and all the time, I'd do my best to steer my sisters away from people with something bad in their souls. My sisters didn't mind. Penny has Soul Magic too, so she took up looking after Paige. But Pacer didn't want that. He wanted to make his own choices. And he made that clear when we both got into Hawthorn in the USM, his words still stood." He yawned. "So I kept my word. If he wanted to make bad friends, I couldn't stop him. But it sucked watching him get his hopes up on an upperclassman girl who used him to make her ex jealous or frat guys who used him for his smarts. And now…" He threw up his hands.

"His smarts?" Aurinia's brow furrowed. "But your brother is the laziest student I have ever met and sleeps with every single tutor he meets."

Pearson's lips twisted into a melancholic smile. "Yeah, now. But freshman year, he was right there with me. Sure, we partied a bit with us being overseas, but he was with me pulling drug-free all-nighters in the library and getting straight A's every test. But you get a little jaded after a while when you fall into pitfall after pitfall of relationships." His eyes gazed down upon Aurinia when he saw her flinch. "Sorry."

Aurinia shook her head and cocooned herself again. "It's nothing," she dismissed. "I feel sorry for you, Pearson. You have this incredible gift, but you can't use it. It must feel awful being able to see all those souls and know about the bad ones and be unable to stop it."

"It bothers me, yeah," Pearson agreed, "but I do interfere when it's necessary." A moment's worth of hesitation. "Like with you."

Now Aurinia's gaze ricocheted to his and her eyebrows shot up. "You can see my soul?"

"Yeah." Pearson gauged Aurinia's expression. "Why?"

"Then…you know who I am?"

Now Pearson understood her better and he gave a gentle nod. "I know you're an Another, yes."

Aurinia went rigid. "An Another?"

Pearson nodded again. "Yeah. I recognized it the moment I saw you. Don't be offended. Scanning the souls around me is a necessary precaution with my job. So when I saw your soul, I recognized it was powerful. It took me a couple of minutes to decipher you're an Another." He read Aurinia's silence as worry and hurried to add, "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. A lot of people have something or other they hide and I see it in their soul, but it's not my place to exploit secrets."

But Aurinia was barely listening. He thinks I'm an 'Another'. So…he really can't see me. And he has powerful Magic. That means…her spell worked. Her eyes darted back to Pearson and she cleared her throat. "I don't think you've ever told me what you do."

Pearson offered her a wry smile. "I'm an independent contractor," he admitted. "My job's pretty simple. I hunt down animavores when I'm not studying. Soul eaters," he clarified for Aurinia. "It's nothing special. Master Erza of Fairy Tail put in a good word for me with a Magician for me. He's pretty old, but he normally has the intel and the means to have me travel around to bring down animavores before they get too powerful."

"May I ask who the Magician is?"

Pearson shrugged and did not see the harm. "Actually, it's a Magician and his wife. His name is Giovanni and her name is Sindella. They run a Magic Shop, actually. Giovanni lets me know where I need to go when I'm hunting down animavores and teleports me with some funky Dimension Door Magic. Then, I go, kick ass, and come home to slave my way through my studies."

"Sindella?"

Pearson frowned when Aurinia looked physically moved at the information. "Do you know her?"

Aurinia blinked away the expression to shake her head. "No. My apologies." Before Pearson could dig into her lie, she asked him, "Tell me more about your job. How can you manage soul hunting while getting your degree?" She listened as attentively as she could as Pearson launched into his lamenting of lack of sleep and energy drinks, but she could not help being stuck in her thoughts. I need to be more careful around him. If he knows Sindella… If he told her… She bit her bottom lip. No. He wouldn't tell her. His broadcasts his intentions to me and they've only been pure of heart. But I can't drag Sindella into this. Sadness coiled around her heart. Not after what I did.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A few hours later…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

With dinner that had come and went under a full house, it was time to clean up and relax. Flights and car-rides were tomorrow and Laxus and Mira would be the last to leave to ensure everything was in order for the cleaning crew when they came by to wipe down everything for the next guests who rented the lodge. What could not fight into the dual dishwashers nor could be dish-washed, a system was in place so those dishes would be washed and dried in a timely manner. Guil took to the bigger pans and scrubbed them down with his sleeves rolled up. Mira handled the silverware while Freed handled plates and glasses. Evergreen took to drying with Ye-ji and Elvin, though she looked up when Ellie came into the kitchen with a love-drunk smile and flushed cheeks.

"Saying good-bye was that good, huh?" Ever teased.

Ellie blushed even harder and swatted away the flower crown trying to emerge around her head. "It was nice." She scurried to get a towel and began to dry the dishes. "Thanks for letting Ines come up. I know it was pretty much last minute and all."

"Nonsense," Ever dismissed. "We have the room. And besides, you've never brought home anyone to the lodge. You two must be getting serious." She took note when Ellie's smile dimmed a little bit. "Something wrong, sweetie?"

Ellie slowed in her drying. "No, Mom… I, um…" She shook her head. "It's nothing."

Evergreen did not buy that for a second. "Eliana, darling, talk to me," she insisted in a low murmur. "What's wrong? Are things not going well? You seem so enamored with her."

"I am," Ellie confessed quietly. "Maybe that's the problem."

Evergreen's frown deepened and she stopped drying altogether. "Elvin, Ye-ji, will you two be okay drying?" she asked.

"Sure, Mom," Elvin said as Ye-ji nodded.

Evergreen set aside the silverware and her dish towel and motioned for Ellie to do the same. Both women left the kitchen to go over to the dining room. It had been cleaned and emptied out once dinner was over and Evergreen ushered herself and her daughter to sit together. Once they did so, Evergreen took Ellie's hands into her own. "Now. Tell me what's the matter."

Ellie could not bite back her groan. "I don't know," she blurted. "I just…! I like Ines. I really, really like her, but…" She swallowed. "I mean I hid her from my friends, Mom. I hid her from my family. I hid part of myself from my own friends and family. If I really did like her, why would I do that?"

Evergreen shook her head. "Eliana," she started, careful, delicate, "it's okay that you weren't comfortable acknowledging that part of yourself with your friends and family."

"How?" Ellie wanted to know. "It's not fair to Ines that I did that to her."

"Did she ever tell you she felt like it was unfair?"

Ellie sniffed. "No."

"Did she ever make you feel pressured to coming out to your friends and to us?"

Ellie shook her head.

"Then, darling girl, why do you feel like it's unfair?" Evergreen asked. "Did we ever pressure you into thinking you had to come out to us?"

"Of course not! It's just…!" Ellie ducked her head. "I know my family is supportive. I know my friends are supportive. I just…feel si coupable about hiding it from everyone when everyone's been so supportive. When Evie came out, you guys even through her a coming-out party. Same with Ezra and Justin. So why did I feel like I couldn't tell you guys when you're that supportive?"

Evergreen pulled Ellie in for a hug. "Oh, darling," she soothed. "You know, Justin went through the same thing."

Ellie pulled away, shocked. "He did? But…JJ never told me that!"

Evergreen tittered. "Mmm. I wasn't sure if he had. But, yes, he was just as guilty as you. Freed never wanted to shy away from his sexuality—you know this. He's had girlfriends and boyfriends and partners, but he wanted to make sure Justin was okay with seeing his father with partners of different genders. We made sure Justin felt safe and comfortable in our home. But he didn't come out right away. And when he did, I saw him blossom in a way I always knew he would. But Freed had told me Justin cried to him because he felt so horrible for keeping it a secret when Freed had gone out of his way to explain his own sexuality."

"I didn't know…" Ellie whispered.

Evergreen brushed Ellie's hair with her hand. "It's ironic because Freed went through the same thing," she remembered. "In his defense, he was more afraid Laxus wouldn't accept him." She rolled her eyes at that with a dismissive wave. "Honestly, your Uncle Laxus has that resting bitch face where waiters are scared of him." Both women shared a giggle.

"But from what I've learned from both experiences, it doesn't matter if you have a supportive family or not. What matters are your feelings alone. I'm sure Evie didn't tell us she was a lesbian when she realized she liked women. She dated boys, remember? And I'm sure if you spoke to her, she'll tell you how she wrestled with her sexuality until she felt comfortable acknowledging it." Evergreen booped Ellie's nose then caressed her cheek. "You're still finding yourself, my darling, and that's okay. If you're still not sure who you are, that's okay. Just tell me this: does Ines make you happy?"

"Yes," Ellie breathed. "She does."

Evergreen beamed. "Then, that's all your father and I care about." She paused. "But is it true she used to street race?"

Ellie giggled. "Sure. Let's go with 'used to'. No need to give you guys any more heart attacks."

Evergreen shook her head. "Esme knows how to make an entrance and I have a feeling she'll make a grand exit too," she sighed. "That wildflower. She seems to be capable of doing the one thing I was never able to do."

"What's that?"

Amusement glittered into Evergreen's eyes. "Getting your father to stop saying 'man'."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

At night…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Sleep came easily to some but not to others. Pacer slept like the dead with loud snores while Aurinia was curled up, quiet as a church mouse, and Pearson slept on the pullout bed that came with one of the beds. Elfman was a large enough man to take up an entire bed but Evergreen never minded since she slept on his chest. Esme drooled a bit between her partners and turned so she faced Guil and Ye-ji unconsciously spooned her and stroked Esme's stomach. Ellie and Justin were without their partners, but Ellie slept with her Compact and a call still ran between her and Ines.

Mary Jane turned and tossed until she was flat on her back, irritated. The room was dark and she knew Paige was asleep. Penelope did not sleep like a normal person, at least she did rarely. Fists pressed together, she meditated instead. Mary Jane let out a rushed sigh and reached for her Compact and headphones. She was content to just watch YouView videos when a text from Peter dropped down.

« I can't fall asleep. »

Mary Jane smiled and buried herself under her comfort. She typed back:

« I can't either. Why can't you? »

Peter was quick to answer:

« You. »

« Me? »

« I keep thinking about you and how you're my girlfriend »

Mary Jane smothered her giddy giggle.

« Really? Because I can't stop thinking you're actually my boyfriend »

« Well thank fgod. I was worried for a second there »

« God* »

« I want to see you »

Mary Jane sucked on her bottom lip.

« I want to see you too. »

« Want to sneak to the living room? »

« I promise we'll lock the doors this time »

She grew worried when Peter's typing bubble came up then left. It came back up again:

« OK »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And then…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CLICK!

"There. My family shouldn't be able to interrupt," Mary Jane determined. She looked back to see Peter on the couch in shorts and a tank top with the blanket. The only light came from the glow of the LV and it was enough for Mary Jane to creep over the squeakier floorboards to get to the couch.

Peter welcomed her and smiled when she snuggled into his side. "You're going to have to protect me from your dad and your brother if they find us in the morning," he murmured.

Mary Jane quietly giggled. "Don't worry. I've got you." She hitched up an eyebrow when she saw what they were watching. "Really? Miracle on Thirty-Second Street?"

"It's a classic," Peter defended. "And the story is cute." He shot her a sly grin. "And we don't always have to watch the movie."

Mary Jane straddled his lap. She placed her hands on his cheeks and her eyes went down as a shy smile adorned her when Peter held her hands and kissed her palm. "I'm really happy I'm your girlfriend," she admitted. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, Sweets," Peter chuckled. "I should be thanking you." His eyes dipped down to the acorn charm hanging on Mary Jane's neck.

"Igneel didn't just leave just because, did he?"

"No. He didn't."

Liquid gold stared hard at the acorn charm and Peter brought his hand up to thumb it. So he did love her. I had a feeling, but to hear it is another thing. And she loved him, but she told me nothing went on between them. Why didn't she tell me she loved him?

"Peter?"

Unreadable liquid gold clashed with worried cerulean-scarlet.

"What's wrong?" Mary Jane asked of him. She looked down at the charm he held. "Is…something the matter?"

Peter debated in his head what to say, the truth or a lie or a combination of both. "I'm just…" He sighed and let go of her charm. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"No." Mary Jane slid a hand to tip his chin up so their eyes met once more. "What's wrong, Peter?"

Peter hated his insecurities. But he voiced at least one of them, "If someone you loved came back in your life, would you leave me for them?"

Mary Jane's eyebrows rose. "What?"

Peter sighed and twisted his head away and out of her hand. "Never mind. It's stupid."

"N-N-No!" Mary Jane pulled him back to her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…! To answer your question, no, I wouldn't leave you. I've never fallen in love before."

"Never?" Peter parroted. He remembered the conversation between him and Mister Dreyar. Was he lying to me? But it didn't seem like he was. And I know Sweets wouldn't lie about something like that. Maybe he wasn't reading their feelings correctly?

Mary Jane shook her head. "No, I haven't." She frowned. "But my mom brought up 'love' today."

"She did?" That interested Peter. "What did she say?"

Mary Jane heaved a sigh. "Something about falling in love for a second time," she supposed. "It was really weird."

"Do you think someone can? Love a second time?" Peter added when Mary Jane tipped her head.

"I do," Mary Jane said. She toyed with his hair. "It's beautiful when people end up with their first loves. But I think everyone can love and care about people in different ways at different times."

"And you care about me?"

"Well, yeah." Mary Jane offered him a smile and a light laugh even if red crawled up her cheeks. "What's with the questions?"

"Nothing. It's just…" Peter glanced back at the charm then his eyes fell to her bracelet and his own.

Mary Jane tried to catch his eyes. "'It's just'…?"

He turned his gaze back to hers. "I'm just happy you chose me, Sweets."

The sentence bewildered Mary Jane, but she laughed and put her forehead against him. "Of course, silly. You are my boyfriend after all. And you're kind and smart and you win me fun prizes at arcades"—they both smiled—"so how could I not choose you? I really like you."

"I really like you too, Sweets," Peter whispered. "It's funny. I know it was stupid for me to follow you that day in Margaret Town, but… It felt right. And every time we're together, it feels right."

"I know," Mary Jane whispered back. "I feel like that too." She shivered when Peter's hands flooded down her spin.

I want to ask about Igneel and what she really felt about him, Peter thought. But it's not my place to ask. She said she only cares about me and I trust her. She said he was her best friend and I trust her. He pulled away for one of his hands to slip up the side of her neck and he watched with rapt interest when she shuddered, but she did not resist. It just…feels right with her. Like I'm supposed to be here.

His hand drifted to her cheek then to the back of her neck and he pulled her close. And I don't want to let that go.

"I like you, Sweets," he whispered with his lips just centimeters from her own.

Mary Jane breathed, "I like you too."

Peter wasted no time bringing her down for a kiss. The first was rough, but the next were softer and just as intense. Her hands combed his hair until she locked down behind his neck and she twitched when a hand cradled the back of her head while an arm wrapped around her waist. A noise bubbled out when Peter softly nipped her bottom lip and she wanted to pull away, embarrassed, but Peter would not let her and held her tight. She shivered again and the sound came out that had her turn her head and Peter's lips to kiss her jaw.

A gasp flew out. "Peter…!"

"Shhh..." Peter kissed her neck. "We have to be quiet."

"B-B-But I…! Ah…!"

"Shhhh…"

Eyes closed, Mary Jane writhed in Peter's arms when he kissed the juncture where neck and shoulder met and her nails accidentally raked through his hair. "P-P-Peter…!"

Peter let her go with one more kiss and his heart pounding. He knew he looked flushed, but he could not stop staring at Mary Jane and her tinted skin and the way she panted and how her body trembled. Her eyes cracked open—

Cerulean-scarlet had been doused with a ring of violet and connected with burning liquid gold.

Something stirred in Mary Jane's chest, deep and profound. Wh-What…is this…?

I've felt stuff like this before, but…never like this, Peter thought.

Mary Jane swallowed and struggled to even out her breathing. "N-No sex, right?"

"Right," Peter agreed. No disappointment or frustration. He meant that. "We're not ready."

Mary Jane nodded. "But I like what we're doing now."

"Yeah?"

Mary Jane nodded. She did not know what was coming over her. She felt hypnotized by those liquid gold eyes. They burned like she was looking at actual liquid gold. "Yeah," she responded in whisper. "I want more."

Peter tensed. "Yeah?"

"Yes." A breathless affirmation. "Please, Peter."

He groaned. "Fuck, Sweets." He pulled her down for another kiss.

Their kisses strung together between pants and moans Peter kissed away. New touches, desperate touches, egged on more kisses, and more touches. That aching need for closeness, physically, mentally, emotionally—it consumed them every second into their connection. It had gotten Peter to move Mary Jane onto the couch and underneath him and she took it in stride, fingers raking his hair and biting her lip when his kisses dragged across her skin. At one point, Peter buried his face into the crook of his neck with ragged pants leaving him.

Mary Jane used the time to catch her breath with a loose hum. "This feels amazing."

"It is," Peter agreed, "but I think that's as much as I can do tonight without losing control."

"O-O-Oh!" Mary Jane colored as Peter pulled back with a grin on his face. "That's fine! Um, did you want to cuddle and watch the movie?"

"Yeah, sure."

They arranged themselves so the throw pillows were their pillows for the night and Mary Jane faced the LV with Peter spooning her, an arm beneath her head and another arm wrapped around her waist. She held onto that arm and, if she were a cat, she would be purring unconditionally at the attention. She smiled when Peter pressed a kiss on the nap of her neck where her guild mark was.

"You have a scar there."

"Oh, yeah." Mary Jane did not think too much of it. "My mom said it came from when I was younger."

Peter hummed and tightened his hold on her. "Thanks for having me this weekend."

"Anytime," Mary Jane whispered back. Her eyes felt heavy. That ring in her eyes was long gone and with her emotions spent on lust, she felt exhausted. "Hey, Peter?"

"Yeah, Sweets?"

"I really"—a yawn escaped her as her eyes closed—"like…you…"

Peter reached for the remote to turn off the LV. Darkness encompassed them, but he did not mind. He kissed her skin one more time. "I like you too." And thank you for choosing me. He shut his eyes with a deep sigh and willed himself to sleep…

…but it was becoming increasingly hard.

Internally, Peter was sweating bullets. Shit. I can't get it down. Not when she's this close to me! What if she feels—?

"Peter?"

"Yeah?"

Peter shut his eyes tighter. Crap! She knows!

"You're amazing, you know that?" Mary Jane murmured to him with a slur to her words.

Peter felt immediate relief. "So I'm told," he teased. "You're not bad yourself, Sweets."

Silen—

"Peter?"

"Hmm?"

Three beats.

A meek whisper that had Peter blush to the roots of his hair. "Please tell me that's your arm I feel."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Monday, the next day…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The good-byes were hurried or drawn-out, depending on the family member. Cars had been loaded for the most part the night before and now the finishing touches and excess were being loaded now. Pacer was making fun of Paige's height, much to her annoyance. Liberty was crying as she hugged Ola and truly did not want the beautiful goth to leave. Lisanna was holding Pulan as she spoke to Aurinia who was deeply thankful for the hospitality she had been shown. Esme had been carefully put into the backseat of the car she would be sharing with Guil driving and Ye-ji in the passenger seat. Veronika had come over for a good-bye, smiling as Esme cried crocodile tears.

"And you better not ignore me when I call, okay?" Esme got out between sniffles. "I mean it. Pregnant or not, I will track you down and punch you in the throat."

"Of course, Esme," Veronika sighed. "If you need any help at all, you just call me. But don't think I won't be checking in on you constantly."

"You promise?" Esme pressed.

Veronika laughed. "I promise, Es."

"Good. You better, you bitch." Esme took a sip of her ginger tea that had been put into a large water bottle for her to sip on. "Now stop making me cry or I'll sic my husband on you. He might be quiet, but he's deadly."

Veronika and Guil shared an amused look. "Uh-huh. I'm quaking, Es."

Ezra had taken to being on his own. He would be riding to the Sky Port with Pearson and Pacer and had his bags tucked away in the car. His good-byes had been brief, although he made several promises to his mother and Esme that he would keep open a channel of communication rather than bury himself in his work and never reply to missed calls or messages. Still, his eyes fell onto Saudade's picture. The way she smiled at the camera, carefree. A deep sadness gutted him, but he was jolted out of it when a hand came down on his shoulder. He looked up to see his father hovering. "Hey, Dad."

Elfman nodded down at the Compact. "Take all the time you need to grieve," he murmured. "No one would blame you."

"Esme might," Ezra snorted.

"But she doesn't have the right to," Elfman reminded. "No one has the right to judge you. Be kind to yourself out in Melandia, Ezra. I didn't raise a manly son to dig his own grave in a lab. We worry about you."

A different sadness filled him. "Yeah, I know," Ezra muttered guiltily. "I already promised Mom I'd do better to communicate. I can't promise I'll always be there for the Sunday FaceCall or anything like that, but I'll respond back to messages and call back instead of ignoring."

Elfman beamed. "Good. Because talking to family is manly!"

Ezra sweat-dropped. "If you say so, Dad…"

Mary Jane had a happy Lisa-Jane in front of her and loosely draped her arms down Lisa-Jane's shoulders as they watched all the loading from the safety of the porch. "Did you have fun, LJ?"

"Yeah!" Lisa-Jane beamed up at her. "Thanks for convincing Mommy to let Ivan and Mister Spencer and I come to meet my family, Auntie MJ! Do you think Mommy will let us come to more family stuff? Ivan really wants to come back to play with Liberty!"

Mary Jane grinned and looked over to see Ivan entertaining James with nice side scratches, but his eyes kept drifting back to a distraught Liberty as Ola calmed her down. "Oh, really?" She shook her head. "First, the triplets and now, Ivan. She'll be a heart breaker." Her eyes glanced over to see Spencer approach Veronika, but her gaze saddened when she saw Veronika only respond to him tersely. She brightened when she spoke to Esme and did not care to see the hurt on Spencer's face that he masked over as he walked away. Ronnie… I really thought you were warming up to him. What happened now?

Peter climbed up the porch steps to come stand by Mary Jane and the two shared a quick kiss. "Everything in the car?"

"Yup." Mary Jane popped the p. "I doubled checked both of our rooms. The cleaning crew alerts us if we left anything behind, but still, I think we're covered. Are you sure you want to drive me back to my place and then go home?"

"Definitely," Peter affirmed. "I need to hoard all the time I can get with my girlfriend while I can." He grinned when Mary Jane flushed and beamed. "Besides, I can make out with you a lot easier without your dad watching."

Mary Jane covered Lisa-Jane's ears as her niece giggled and whisper-scolded, "Peter!"

"What!" Peter laughed. "It's true!"

Mary Jane rolled her eyes and took her hands off Lisa-Jane's ears to come down her hair. "Yeah, well, we still have to make it back to my place by at least three since I have a doctor's appointment," she reminded.

"I know. And it's…"—Peter checked his Compact—"seven-forty-six in the morning. Which means we'd hit Magnolia by nine or ten. Which means we have plenty of time to get lunch and do"—his eyes burned liquid gold—"other things."

"Are you guys going to have sex?" Lisa-Jane chirped.

ZZZZZT!

Mary Jane dutifully ignored she had electrocuted Peter (or maybe she just did not notice her volatile response) as she gaped at her niece. "Vasilisa Jane Strauss!"

Lisa-Jane frowned. "What?"

Mary Jane shook her head as a thunderous clap came to interrupt all conversation. Laxus was looking around at the family members and grunted, "Last chance to say your good-byes and get your shit. We've got flights to catch and roads to get on, people."

"I'm going to say by to Pearse and Pace!" Lisa-Jane announced and flooded down the porch.

Peter wrapped his arm around Mary Jane's waist. "Did you say all your good-byes, Sweets?"

"I did," Mary Jane assured. "I'm just sad to see everyone leave. This is the first year everyone has been home. I just hope it happens next year." She hummed when Peter kissed the side of her face. "Thanks again for enduring my family's crazy."

"I promise you when you see my family, they are nowhere near as chaotic," Peter assured. "They're crazy, sure, but relatively tame. Not that your family is bad or anything," he quickly tried to amend, though he smiled when Mary Jane giggled.

"Don't worry. I get it." She pulled away from him to interlace their hands. "C'mon! Let me make my rounds one more time and we can get in the car."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Daijoubu" hitori de zenbu

Kakaekomu kimi no warui kuse

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Once the farewells had rung dry, it was a mutual agreement for everyone to pack it up into their cars and leave the lodge in Greenheart Alps. Laxus and Mira led everyone down the mountainside through its violent twists and turns that had Esme and Ivan respectively motion sick. But once they got to the bottom of the mountain and crossed through the barren lands to get back to the city, everyone honked their good-byes as they took different routes for their different airports. Pacer, Pearson, Aurinia, and Ezra were off to one international airport and the car-ride was filled with the twins arguing as Ezra listened to his music while Aurinia looked out the window. Evie was in the driver's seat and looked at the GPS, but she heard a sniffle and looked over. She reached over and rubbed Ola's thigh when she caught her girlfriend quickly trying to rid herself of those pesky tears.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Itsu ni natte mo naoranai kara

Kyou mo shizuka ni te wo tsunaida

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Esme had taken to lying down in the backseat of the car with her lemon candies and smiled to herself as Ye-ji dominated the conversation with Guil about pregnancy and baby classes she had found for the three of them. Esme opened her Compact to her photos and smiled at the family picture they had taken in their pajamas before the Christmas tree. Bixslow had turned on a rock and roll song to appease those in the car. The triplets were on their tablets and gaming devices and Penelope was reading while Paige instantly fell asleep.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Sekai ga kimi wo hajikidashite mo

Watashi ga soba ni iru kara

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Spencer looked in the rearview mirror to see Ivan was sucking on his ginger snap while an exuberant Lisa-Jane was over the moon as she played on her tablet and kept in touch with her cousins. He looked over to the passenger's seat and saw Veronika had cloaked herself in her jacket like it was a barrier against the world. Freed had taken both Liberty and Justin home with James free to roam as he pleased and it was ironic to see a creature scorned for being "bad luck" purring and snuggling up to an adorable little girl made of Luck Magic. Nik was on his own for driving, but in his passenger's seat was an entire file labeled EMMA.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Osorenakute ii tobira wo akete

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Elfman and Evergreen were arguing over the radio station yet again, but it was normal. Eloise was connecting with her cousins on her tablet while Elvin was interested in his online chatroom. Ellie smiled to herself as she texted Ines about their plans. Aine and Lance shared a comfortable silence in the car-ride, matching smiles and warmth in their eyes.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kimi no mirai ga watashi no mirai

Kimi ga iru nara nani mo kowakunai

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Laxus and Mira might have been alone in their car, but as Laxus drove, Mira busied herself with her next knitting project. But at one point, she stopped and enjoyed the scenery. Those deep ceruleans reflected the hue of the blue outside and the clouds passing on by. Laxus glanced over and smiled to himself. Reaching over to her seat, he took her hand in his to bring it up to his lips and kiss her knuckles then her palm.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Futari wo tsunagu kasaneta te to te

Hanarenai you ni tsuyoku

Nigirishimete yukou

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Peter had turned on a podcast for him and Mary Jane to listen to as they coasted down the highway. Mary Jane's mind was already on food as she ratted off possible places they could stop for a bigger breakfast than the quick joke of a breakfast they had earlier in the morning. Peter teasingly touched her thigh and laughed when she giggled and batted him away to keep reading off suggestions. But his eyes eventually dropped to the bracelet she proudly wore only to go to his own and a warmth filled him.

Spencer had arrived at the Sky Port. It was a smaller Sky Port, yes, but on the scale of any station, it was still big and it was quickly filling up. Spencer had parked the car for this in the garage and helped Veronika and her kids get out their luggage and make their way into the station. Veronika asked no questions during the check-in when Spencer had paid for a companion ticket and showed his ID, but her stare did linger going over security when he kept close to Ivan and helped the little boy calm down at the security agents. By the time they had made it to the gate, Ivan was asleep in Spencer's arms and Lisa-Jane was right as rain.

Veronika was about to take Ivan from Spencer when Spencer shook his head. "I've got him Lucky," he murmured. "You go ahead and settle in."

Veronika sat back, but she was not at ease just yet. "You don't need to be here," she remarked after making sure Lisa-Jane had put on her Magic Headphones. "Don't you have a long drive ahead of you?"

"I do," Spencer confirmed, "but my parents aren't expecting me home until after lunch. I called them Saturday morning to let them know there had been a change in plans and I'd be taking you to the airport. I'll leave once you guys have taken off. Don't try to stop me, Lucky," he added when Veronika opened her mouth. "I want to make sure you and the kids take off safely."

Veronika dug her nails into the Sky Port chair arms to keep herself from rolling her eyes. "My children will be fine with me."

"Never said they wouldn't." Spencer locked eyes with her before he looked out the giant Sky Port gate window.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Dare yori mo yasashiku tsuyoi

Dare yori mo moroku yowai hito

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Veronika had decided, in the meantime, to pull out her PAL and turn her focus back onto work. She put out fires that had started over her holiday and sent emails to the right people regarding orders. Her two assistants had been heaven-sent handling things on her behalf, but even they had their own questions and she did what she could to answer them. A few client emails had come in with the feedback she requested from the offers and quotes she gave them came back. But one potential client, in particular, had stunned her. The email was sent from a resident all the way in the Alvarez Empire and sought her services for a celebratory banquet and reception.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Takusan no itami wo shitte

Kanashii koto mo kakushite warau

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Sky Boat had come in cleanly and the passengers from its flight before filed off, some yawning, some excited, and some a little too tipsy from the complimentary drinks. The flight to depart had its passengers line up in the preselected groups. Spencer had woken up Ivan and stood in line with Veronika and Lisa-Jane as they headed to Group A. Veronika stiffened when Spencer's hand brushed her own and passed a glance, but he seemed relatively unaffected as he engaged with Lisa-Jane over what she asked Santa for Christmas.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Honto wa tsuyoku nanka nai koto

Watashi dake wa shitteru yo

Wasurenai de ne koko ni iru koto

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Children, those disabled, and those pregnant were called to board first. Spencer had been permitted to come along to the Sky Port even when Veronika looked agitated he did so. Lisa-Jane and Ivan excitedly ran down the covered dock and were enthralled seeing the interior of their Sky Boat. Veronika ushered her children to their seats, but Spencer was the one to take their carry-ons and place it above them.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kimi wo shinjiru watashi wo shinjite

Kimi no tonari ni zutto isasete

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Veronika feathered a hand down Lisa-Jane's hair. "Once the pilots say we're in the clear, I'll bring out your tablet, okay? And Ivan, you can have yours too."

"Okay!" both children chorused.

Lisa-Jane took notice Spencer was not sitting next to them and frowned. "You have to get buckled up, Mister Spencer."

Spencer smiled. "Sorry, Vanilla, but I'm not coming with you. I have to get back to my parents' house."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mayotta toki wa yasashiku terasu

Hikari no you ni kimi wo

Tsutsumikomeru you ni

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ivan saddened, and Lisa-Jane pouted. "Aw…"

"But"—Spencer tweaked her nose—"I'll be back for the night of Christmas Eve and Christmas."

Lisa-Jane and Ivan brightened. "Really?" Lisa-Jane checked. "Yay! I can't wait! Mommy always has us back cookies for Santas and we get to stay up and watch the Charlie Christmas movie and the Winter Express! And you can do all those things with us!" She turned to her mother. "Right, Mommy? Mister Spencer can join?"

Veronika painted on a smile. "Of course, baby. If that's what you want."

Spencer looked up to see the flight attendant was signaling he had limited time left. "I'd better go. I think the next group will be boarding." He turned to Veronika and her children. "Have a safe flight, everyone."

It shocked both Veronika and Spencer when the children wriggled out of their seats to launch themselves at Spencer for a final hug. He hugged them back. "I'll see you guys in a few days, okay? Be good for your mother."

"We will," Ivan promised.

"We love you, Mister Spencer," Lisa-Jane whispered quite loudly as she held onto him.

Spencer's eyes widened and snapped to Veronika. He knew she had heard when her eyes watered and she bit her bottom lip. "I love you both too," he got out hoarsely. "Be good. And maybe I'll put in a good word for you with Santa."

Lisa-Jane pulled back with an excited gasp. "Really?"

Spencer grinned. "Anything for you two."

Lisa-Jane squealed and hugged him again. "You're the best, Daddy, thank you!" She let him go and did not seem to realize her misstep or the shock Spencer wore as she went to her mother. "Mommy, did you hear that? Mister Spencer knows Santa too and…!" She frowned when she saw the silent tears her mother carried. "What's wrong, Mommy?"

Veronika managed a smile. "Nothing, baby. I just…miss our family is all."

"We'll see them again," Lisa-Jane promised. "Will Mister Spencer come with us when we see them again?"

"That's something your mother and I will discuss later," Spencer cut in to save Veronika from answering. "For now, just make sure you're good for these next few days, okay?" He kissed Lisa-Jane's forehead then Ivan's and helped both children back into their seats. He spared a look at Veronika who would not meet his eyes. "Lucky." He sighed through his nose when she pointedly turned away. "I'll see you in a few days. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything." He turned and walked away—

"Spencer!"

He looked over his shoulder to see Veronika looking at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Text me what food and drinks you like," Veronika managed to say stiffly. "I have to go grocery shopping and I want to make sure you as my guest have food you like in my house. And tell your parents 'Merry Christmas' for me."

Spencer smiled. "I will, Lucky. Have a safe flight." With his hands in his pockets, he murmured his pardons as he managed to get his way back to the front of the Sky Port. It did not take him long to make his way out as the next group boarded. He left the gate and headed for the observation bay where those waiting for flights and companions could watch Sky Boats take off and arrive back to their ports. This observation bay had a giant glass window with tiered bench seats. He witnessed two parents as they hoped their daughter and boyfriend would have a safe flight. An older gentleman sat alone, but he perked as he saw a Sky Boat begin its descent.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Chigau basho chigau jidai chigau

Sekai ni mayoikonde shimatte mo

Kitto watashi kimi wo mitsukete

Mata aisuru deshou

Umare kawatte mo

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Evie and Ola sat comfortably in their Sky Boat with Ola flipping through the sky magazines and pouting every time Evie denied Ola going along with her impulsivity to buy whatever she saw. But she could not help smiling as Ola spoke and, in the end, she turned Ola's head towards her for a strong kiss that left Ola a little woozy. Blinking away that dazed feeling, she smacked Evie in the thigh and reprimanded her for the welcomed surprise while Evie simpered, not at all ashamed.

Pearson, Pacer, and Aurinia said their good-byes to Ezra as he went the opposite direction from him. As he traveled through the busy hall, his eyes caught onto what he thought was a familiar smile and he stopped dead to whip around. Much to his disappointment, who he thought he saw was not there and he kept up his travels and ignored the news station reporting about the court case about to begin in the District of Ishgar regarding the Commonwealth of Bellum versus the Devil. Pacer was already sweet-talking with a girl from university while Pearson poured himself over a book. Aurinia kept to herself.

Esme clapped excitedly when Ye-ji returned with a sandwich packed with meat and cheese and dug into it heartily as she leaned against Guil at their gate. Guil kissed the top of her head as he checked a few work emails. Ye-ji rubbed Esme's back while she was on her own Compact and a frown became of her when she saw a customer email her about one of the fantasy-maker vibrating dildos she had crafted did its job, but there was no name attached and the email was an obvious throwaway account.

Nik glanced over as the screen on his car morphed into a call to show the caller ID with only the last name:

WINTERS

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kimi wo shinjiru watashi wo shinjite

Kimi no tonari ni zutto isasete

Mayotta toki wa yasashiku terasu

Hikari no you ni kimi wo

Tsutsumikomeru you ni

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Spencer could not erase Lisa-Jane's admittance of love and the way she so casually referred to him as her daddy—her father. With the Sky Boat he had waited for waiting for its turn for take-off, he pulled out his Compact and placed a call. When the call connected, he greeted, "Hi, Dad."

"Hey, Spencer," Hibiki called pleasantly. "Are you on the road?"

"No, not yet." Spencer saw the Sky Boat he was looking for was making its way to the take-off strip. "I wanted to call since I need some help."

"Sure. What do you need?"

Spencer watched as the Sky Boat was cleared for take-off and began its sail down the runaway and its ascent. "Remember the woman I told you about? It's about her. Long story short, I have something coming up, but before I go, I want her to know I care." He watched as the Sky Boat's nose listed until the rest of it was climbing into the air.

"How far are you willing to go?"

Spencer said with no reservations: "I'll do anything. She's not ready for me to tell her I love her. But I'll do anything so she at least knows I care about her and her children."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kimi no mirai ga watashi no mirai

Kimi ga iru nara nani mo kowakunai

Futari wo tsunagu kasaneta te to te

Hanarenai you ni tsuyoku

Nigirishimete yukou

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

In the District of Ishgar, beneath the Ishgaran Magic Council Court…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

THWIP!

Skade cracked his sleep-crusted eyes open when he felt light seep into his dark prison. He recognized the sounds and smells of guards, but he did not get a warning nor greeting when he was dropped to the ground and his balance was knocked off. His wounds had yet to heal, even with his time here, and the medical team had only given him the bare minimum first aid after drawing his blood with the reasoning they did not have enough research on Devils to perform serious treatment.

Skade wanted to snarl when he felt something hooked onto his collar, but he knew better than to fight back. Not now. Not while his freedom was in jeopardy.

CLICK… CLICK…

Skade peeked up past his muzzle to see Miss Wilson standing before the prison with her co-counsel, both prepped in their suits and briefcases. Miss Wilson inclined her chin. "Good morning, Mister Devil," she greeted. "Let's see if we can get you out of here a free Devil and back to your mate."

Something gleaming in those icy-blue orbs and Skade bowed his head. He did glare when the guards jerked him forward and he found his hands encompassed in a case that had him hiss. Sealstone was on top, but purity Magic was inside and it was a slow burn against his fur and flesh. He was jerked forward again and led out of his prison and into the light. Malã'ika… I will see you soon.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ai to iu kiseki wo kono te ni chikau yo

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The Ishgaran Magic Council Court Room for the Lord Chief of Justice and a grand jury was large and stained with the symbol of the Magic Council with the symbol of a Mage, a Magician, an Alchemist, an Alkahest, a Wiccan, and an Aberrant surrounding that symbol. Flags touched the walls to represent every country around the world and the symbols on the walls recognized every single guild underneath Magic Council control. No windows were permitted in the courtroom, but that did not mean the courtroom was dark. The entire courtroom was painted brightly to promote serenity during intense trials and fragile emotional states. The grand jury had been gathered and sat in their seats, fresh-eyed and prepped for a long day of redirection and cross-examination. Chinlien was already set up on the plaintiff's side as the crown prosecutor with his co-counsel wiping away his sweat with a handkerchief.

The audience gathered in the public seating area were namely those important. While the trial would be lacrivised and the camera people had set up alongside their producers and those with boom mics and photographers and journalists flocked the crowd, witnesses were sprinkled into the mix alongside the one companion the jurors were allowed to ask to accompany them and the rest were those high enough on the Magic hierarchy that they had been permitted to sit by and watch the trial.

Lucy and Nashi had taken their seats already close to the defense side. Lucy had her hair up in a bun wrapped in a braid and wore a dark blue and white sailor dress and shawl. She exchanged pleasantries with a few others who took an interest in the Starmaker of Fairy Tail was here in the flesh, but she otherwise attended to Nashi. She kept her hair in a loose braid for today with a pencil dark blue skirt, a nice cream blouse, and a dark blue blazer, but even with the touches her mother had done, the bags under her eyes still showed just a little. Býleistr crouched beside her in his Cat Form with his harness labeled as ESA (Emotional Support Animal) and kept scanning the courtroom with those wild oranges. He noticed Nashi's haunted look.

Princess. Býleistr sat up to put a paw on her thigh. Are you sure—?

I can do this. Nashi closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. I'm okay. I'll be fine once I'm on the stand.

"Miss Dragneel?"

Nashi opened her eyes to see Kyler sliding towards her as he murmured his pardons. He was concealed as the ginger man she had met in the PICU in a gray suit that fit him well. He aimed a smile at Lucy and shook her head. "Misses Dragneel. It's a pleasure to see you again."

"Likewise, Mister Wilson," Lucy said warmly. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter's contract."

Kyler as Mister Wilson settled next to Nashi and Býleistr. "Of course. It's no problem. And I hope the hotel is to your liking?"

"It's beautiful," Lucy described. "But a little too much for just the two of us. I'm surprised Nashi was even able to let Býleistr come to court with her."

Mister Wilson inclined his head and scratched underneath Býleistr's chin (and he purred at that). "I wanted to make sure you both were comfortable," Mister Wilson reasoned. "And not even the Magic Council can deny emotional support animals from appearing in court, at least not for witnesses. He won't be able to come to the stand with you, but he'll be within your sights at all times, Nashi."

Nashi managed a smile. "Thanks, Mister Wilson."

Mister Wilson nodded. Nashi, have you been sleeping?

Nashi tried hard to school her features so she was not surprised. I thought Telepathy wasn't allow—

Just like your Rigil Link with Býleistr exists as does my link with you, Kyler thought to her. Earth Land does not have preventive measures against a Rigil Link or a Maker Link. It isn't just Telepathy. It's a psychological connection and the Magic on Earth Land is incapable of breaking. Now. He smiled and nodded when a few other higher-up Mages seemed to recognize him. Have you been sleeping? I've been worried since I felt your distress.

Nashi swallowed and reached for her lemon water. I'm fine. Just nervous, I guess. Her eyes swept to Mister Wilson and she asked aloud, "Where's Doctor Orr?"

"He'll be along," Mister Wilson promised. "He received a new potential client and is doing a Com consultation with them this morning. But he'll be at the court in time for you when you're called to the stand. I believe Miss Wilson won't be calling you until after lunch."

Lucy piped up, "How long do you think the trial will last?"

Mister Wilson sighed. "It's anyone's guess, but I'd say a few days." He grimaced as he looked over at a smirking Chinlien who was shaking hands with those from the Bellish government. He leered over at Lady Hendrika and her assistant. "From what I gather, Mister Broussard has gathered quite the witness list and professionals, but so has Miss Wilson." He noticed Nashi flinch and softened his stare. Don't worry, Nashi. Mirella and Talia have been working tirelessly to make sure they can stand against anything Chinlien brings to them. Skade and Gary will walk out of here freely.

But I'm still not able to visit them?

Mister Wilson gave a slight shake of his head. No. Skade is listed as a high-profile prisoner. Until you publicly reveal your relationship with him, there is no negotiation with visitation. And even after your relationship is revealed, there's no guarantee the judge will rule in your favor about visitation. He glanced at Lucy. Have you told your mother?

Yes. Nashi dipped her head. She knows what I'm going to do. So does my papa. But no one else knows like I promised.

"Miss Dragneel," Mister Wilson murmured, "I want you to know you're doing a very brave thing today." And I could not be any prouder of you, my little sister-in-wings.

Nashi nodded. "Thank you." Seriously, Kyler, thank you for everything. You're the best older brother a girl could have.

"Don't thank me yet," Mister Wilson chided. His eyes went as the court reporter and the court registrar took their places at the table before the judge's podium. "Thank me when we've won the Devil's freedom."

Nashi swallowed and leaned against her mother. Lucy rubbed her shoulder and murmured soothing things to her daughter and Nashi closed her eyes. Nausea coiled in her cut and made her tense up when she remembered that invasion, those grunts, and her tears. I can't think about that right now. I need to focus. She took a deep breath and another then another until the urge to cry was gone and her resolve cut off anything else. Gary and Skade need me and that's all that matters. I'm going to free them. I won't let them be taken from me.

SLAM!

Heads turned and murmurs erupted as shutters went off. Miss Wilson and her co-counsel marched into the courtroom unabashed, heads held high. Their client was near-dragged after them by four guards arms and each with a chain. Nashi took in the sight of Skade. Fur matted and with some flecks of dried blood, he was given gauze bandages on his heavier wounds enough to make him look presentable, but it was obvious this Devil was hurting and would need more severe medical attention soon. Some cowered away when he limped down the aisle while others drank him in in interest. Those icy-blue orbs dilated, unused to being around so many people and so many cameras.

Then, it stopped.

Icy-blue swept around and clashed with hickory.

Nashi could barely move. Skade… Gary…

Skade growled when the guard behind him shoved him forward with their purity staff and Skade staggered for a moment before regaining his balance and continuing to walk towards his place. The accused were given their own table normally, but as Skade was considered a sentient magical creature, he was given a cage he was thrown in with the offer of water in a bowl for him to drink like a dog. He was unchained, but he did not make a break for it and waited patiently for the door to his cage to close before sitting down himself. He could not help it when he spared a glance over his shoulder. Malã'ika…

Gary stirred within him and one eye turned cerulean. Angel…

Nashi swallowed and her eyes hardened. Okay. I can do this. Spine straightened, she gifted Skade and Gary with a nod. Here we go.

---

Don't wanna Stop Stop koi suru kokoro ni

Kimi no Love Love ima tsukamaetai

Yasashiku sareru tabi ni sukoshi

Kitai shite shimau

•

Oh Never let mego dakishimete

Never let mego kimi janakya iya yo

Stop stop koi wa tomaranai

Negai wa hitotsu dake Stay by my side

•

Ah ah ah ha

Ah ah

Stay by my side

---

TO BE CONTINUED…

And so it begins! Off from one adventure and onto the next! The trial is starting for Skade! Want to see how the trial goes? Tune in to the next episode of Fairy Adventure to find out!

---

Chibi-Luna appears with a bright beam. "Good day, class! Are you ready for your Fairy Lesson of the day!"

"Yes, teacher!" the students chorus. "What are we learning today?"

Chibi-Luna pulls down her map of the world and each continent has a star located on them. However, a giant red star exists in the ocean between the eastern and western hemispheres, almost dead center of the world. "Today, we're going to talk about the continental branches of the Magic Council!" she explains. "While the Magic Council oversees all magical functions within the world and has branches within every country underneath Magic Council reign, the Magic Council has a main campus in Era as well as continental branches."

A hand goes up. "I thought all countries are underneath the Magic Council's control?"

"They should be," Chibi-Luna amends, "but a few hostile countries taken up by the Faction or other terrorists are driving out Magic Council members, so the Magic Council is in a power struggle with them and can't exercise justice properly." She gestures to the map. "So each continent has its own continental branch for cases similar to Skade. There are times things happen magically that can't be resolved in a country's Magic Council branch and have to be moved to the continental branch. Mainly, the continental branch houses representatives, Sorcerers, and such, but for cases regarding international magical affairs like invasive magical creatures or such, the branch is used for that."

Another hand goes up. "So what's that big star for?"

Chibi-Luna giggles. "That would be Era, the main campus for the Magic Council that's heavily fortified," she explains. "Era is the main place for Magic Councilmen to meet. There are nine Magic Councilmen excluding Chairman Draculos and all of them come from around the world. Era is mainly used similar to the United Nations. Magic-speakers from across the globe gather in Era for their general assembly, but unlike the United Nations, Magic-speakers across the world meet once every quarter. Their 'general assemble' involves every able Guild Master or their second in September on the third Tuesday of the month. Era is also a training ground for Magic Knights and is actually home to a lot of Spiritless who work for the Magic Council. Gaining access to Era can be challenging if you're visiting. You not only have to have a passport but one of the Magic Councilmen themselves as to approve of you visiting Era."

"But why?" a student questions. "Wouldn't it be like traveling to any other country?"

Chibi-Luna shakes her head. "Era is a man-made place created solely to house the Magic Council. Not only does it contain the Worldwide Archive that has the ability to track down anyone with the potential of having powers, but it's rumored to contain a secret prison for the world's most dangerous wizards. Those who stay in Era as their home residence as used to being under tight security and scrutiny, but any visiting outsider is watched carefully. Several times, those who have tried to visit the island have been spies from opposing organizations that think the Magic Council is corrupt and needs to be dismantled. Other times, visitors have been after the Worldwide Archive since it's the only power known to man that can track ever powered human and creature on the planet. So they take visitors seriously."

Chibi-Luna announces: "The insert song used today is called MIRAI by GARNiDELiA. Oh! And the phrase Nik said to Spencer? That phrase is actually from Middle Minstrish and a saying that dates back centuries and told to the warriors of old! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: DAY ONE!"

---

Voices in Order of Character Appearance

Ezra Strauss – Zach Aguilar

Evangeline "Evie" Strauss – Colleen O'Shaughnessey

Ola Wright – Kamali Minter

Justin Justine – Ian Sinclair

Tesla Greer/Hylia Lynk – Galena White

Jaxton "Jax" Yang – Eddy Yeung

Ace Jansen – Billy Kametz

Esmeralda "Esme" Strauss-Depardieu – Megan Hollingstead

Ye-ji Seydoux – Arden Cho

Veronika Strauss – Hilary Haag

Nikolai "Nik" Dreyar – Jason Liebricht

Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch

Aine Fernandes – Carrie Keranen

Pearson Strauss – David Matranga

Aurinia – Seána Kerslake

Lisanna Strauss – Carrie Savage

Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck

Eliana "Ellie" Strauss – Reba Buhr

Peter Shuusei-Thompson – Joe Zieja

Mirajane Dreyar – Monica Rial

Laxus Dreyar – Patrick Seitz

Spencer Lates – Christopher Wehkamp

Pacer Strauss – Josh Keaton

Penelope Strauss – Cristina Vee

Elvin Strauss – Michael Solusod

Lieutenant Colonel Cragnoline – Chris Ryan

Saudade Mixa (voice only) – Enuka Okuma

Ivanushka "Ivan" Strauss – Tara Sands

Evergreen Strauss – Caitlyn Glass

Elfman Strauss – Christopher Sabot

Vasilisa Jane "Lisa-Jane" Strauss" – Laura Woodhull

Hibike Lates – Aaron Dismuke

Skade – Sean Schemmel

Býleistr – Scott Freeman

Nashi Dragneel – Laura Landa

Kyler/Mister Wilson – Ray Chase

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Lei

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns