I am so sorry for not updating in forever! I've been going through quite a bit since school started, so I haven't really written anything at all! I feel terrible for not updating while some of you have been waiting patiently, and dammit, I still have to finish a story request for someone. Anyways, Merry Christmas everyone - although it's early! I won't have internet on Christmas, so I decided to post now.

(Erza)

"We're here, let's go," I snapped, startling Gray.

"R-right," Gray stammered, "M-Meredy, could you lead us back to where you were?"

"Sure," she nodded and led us off the train.

Bisca and Alzack left to go finish the case that Gray had been working on. In the meantime, Meredy led us deeper and deeper into the town. She stopped when we were just outside an old brick building.

"Are you sure this is it?" I asked.

Meredy nodded, "This is definitely it. Erza, remember, Cobra is here too. I know it'll be hard, but try not to let him get to you."

I nodded.

It's going to be a lot harder than you think, Meredy...

Gray led us up to the door. When he checked the door handle, I was surprised to see it was unlocked. He pushed the door open, and I quickly pulled him back. At least it made sense on why I pulled him back. I mean, the last time I was in this situation, I got stabbed. Twice.

He waited a few moments then started into the building; Meredy and I followed close behind. Once we were completely in the building, the door slammed shut, causing me to flinch. When we turned around, we saw Cobra blocking our path.

"Hello, Erza," he smiled, ignoring Gray and Meredy, "I was really hoping you'd be here. I see you've brought your friends with you, that's quite nice. You've brought them to their death."

"What the hell are you talking about?" he was confusing me, and I was starting to get nervous.

"You know what," the evil glint in his eyes startled me even more, "You don't have to pretend anymore, Erza. It's obvious now that you're working with me."

I rolled my eyes and turned to Meredy and Gray, "You two go find Rogue and that other asshole. I'll deal with Cobra."

"Okay," Meredy nodded and led Gray away from me.

"When are you going to stop pretending, Erza?" Cobra quizzed.

"I'm not pretending. I don't pretend anymore," I retorted, glaring at him.

"Oh really? So you aren't pretending that you're not pregnant?" he tested.

I flinched in surprise, causing him to chuckle.

"Erza, surely you know by now that I've been the one hacking into everything. What can I say? I just couldn't help but look at your hospital files."

He took a step towards me, and I took out my gun, aiming it at him.

"Stay away from me," I glared at him.

"You never learn, do you?" he quizzed, "I find it hard to believe that even after all these years, you're still the same vulnerable little girl who pretends she's strong."

"What are y-" I started.

He cut me off, "You should know better than to separate from a group in a situation like this."

Suddenly, I felt the barrel of a gun against my stomach. I looked over, startled, and saw a black haired man evilly grinning at me.

"Lower your gun, Erza," Cobra instructed.

Tears formed in my eyes as I let my arms drop to my sides. The other person made his way over to Cobra and stood next to him.

"Now, Erza, I'm prepared to make a deal with you," Cobra started.

"What now? Haven't you destroyed me enough?" I snapped, "In fact, you have been destroying me since I met you."

Cobra grinned, "You go kill your little friends that are in the other room, and I'll spare Jellal's life."

"Y-you want me to k-kill them?" I stammered.

"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you," he 'reassured' me.

I shakily turned around and walked towards where I saw Meredy and Gray run to. Just as I got to where they were at, they were getting ready to leave. Meredy and Gray were trying to support Rogue, so he didn't have to worry about worsening his injuries. When they saw me and Cobra together, they stared at me in disbelief.

"I'm sorry," I whimpered, raising my gun.

"I'm the one that's going to be sorry," Gray murmured, briefly glaring at Cobra who was behind me.

A gunshot echoed throughout the room, and there was a searing pain in my hand, causing me to drop my gun.

While Gray was talking to Meredy, I stared at my bleeding hand. Suddenly, Gray ran past me, but I just simply sat down where I was at. I flinched when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Sorry," Meredy apologized, "We need to get going. You need to see a doctor about your wound, and we need to get Rogue to a doctor as well. I currently don't care about the fact that you just pointed a gun at us, you're still my friend. I'm sure you had your reasons."

She helped me up off the ground then quickly went back to help Rogue. When we got into the main room, we saw that Gray had Cobra in handcuffs.

"How about we call Bisca and Alzack as well as an ambulance?" he smiled at us.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, the tears returning to my eyes.

"Hey, I'm the one that shot you. I'm sorry about that by the way; I didn't know what else to do. Jellal is going to be pissed when he gets back though," Gray responded.

While we were talking, Meredy had taken Grays phone and called Bisca and Alzack. I'm guessing that they weren't too far away because they got to the building about five minutes later. Before I knew it, I was sitting on the back of an ambulance getting my hand looked at. Eventually, once the bullet was out of my hand, they put stitches in my hand.

"Erza," Meredy walked over to me with Gray's phone in her hand, "Jellal wants to talk to you."

I sighed and took the phone from her. Holding the phone to my ear, I quietly spoke, "Hi Jellal."

"Are you okay?" he asked right away.

"Yeah. I only got shot in the hand, and it only needed thirteen stitches. It barely even hurts," I responded.

"Wait, you were shot?" he quizzed.

"Meredy didn't tell you?" I frowned, "It doesn't matter though. He had a good reason to shoot my hand..."

"Who shot you?" he demanded, "And why?"

I took a deep breath, "Promise me you won't get mad at him."

"I promise," he sighed.

"Gray shot me," I replied, speaking quickly, "As you probably know, we found Meredy... Well, Meredy found Gray. They came back to FTBI to get some extra help, and I found out she saw Cobra, so I went with."

I hesitated, "Jellal, I'm very vulnerable, especially around Cobra. Anyways, he was making me go kill Meredy, Rogue, and Gray. Shooting my hand was the only way they could stop me. I-I wasn't thinking straight."

"Okay... How was Cobra making you?" Jellal asked.

"He threatened to kill you," I mumbled.

We were both silent for a while, and I almost thought the call had ended. Then Jellal spoke again.

"Do you want me to come back home?"

"No, I'll be fine. You stay where you are," I insisted.

"Okay, but don't be afraid to call me if you want me back home," he sounded wary.

"I'll call you if I need anything," I lied. I had already needed him back since he left; I didn't even want him to go, however, I couldn't bring myself to stop him from going. He usually wasn't offered special jobs from Makarov because of his past, his past of being a criminal.

Before he could keep talking I ended the call. If he kept talking, there would be a chance that I'd break down and tell him the truth. There was no way I was going to allow myself to do that; I wouldn't want to hold him back from his opportunities.

I got up and walked over to Gray to return his phone.

"I'm sorry about what happened in there," I apologized once more, "I knew that Cobra would be able to get to me, but I still had you and Meredy part from me. I'm really sorry. Oh, and when you went after Cobra, did you see the other person at all? He has short, spiky black hair?"

"It's fine Erza, you don't need to apologize, and no, I didn't see him," Gray responded.

"Oh..." I mumbled, "Damnit! I suppose that's my fault for leaving that room..."

Meredy slung her arm around my shoulders, "Now, I don't think Jellal would want you to place blame on yourself."

"But-" I began to protest.

"Nope. I can't hear you anymore," she smiled.

Giving up, I sighed, "Can we go home now?

"Okay, but you're not allowed to interrogate Cobra," she skipped away to go check on Rogue.

Gray began to follow her then stopped and looked back at me, "Before you ask, I'm not allowing you to interrogate him either."

After a moment of hesitation, I groaned and followed Gray and Meredy. I was curious about how Rogue was doing; he got some pretty bad injuries. As I got nearer, I could just barely make out what Meredy was saying.

"... sorry. If I hadn't... You... Injured... Badly," her voice kept fading in and out.

"Quit apologizing. If you hadn't have left, I'd still be injured just as bad or even worse. If you had stayed with me, they would've tried to injure you too, and I wouldn't allow that. It was my idea to escape, and I said I'd protect you," Rogue replied.

I smiled and leaned against the side of the ambulance.

Maybe I should call Jellal back and have him come home... He'd be able to help me with everything I've been going through.

Only allowing a brief hesitation, I shook my head and mentally scolded myself.

I am not taking him away from his job!

Meredy, Gray, and I took the train back to town while Bisca and Alzack took a rental car since they had Cobra. When we got into town, Gray suggested that I go home to rest; I tried protesting but it didn't work. I ended up at my house, blankly staring at the wall.

Thank you for reading this chapter! Again, I'm sorry for the really late update, and I hope you can forgive me! Oh, and sorry for this being a short chapter. Personally, I also think this chapter is quite shitty, and I might rewrite it. I don't know though. Leave a review and let me know what you thought of it.

Again, Merry Christmas everyone!