. Oculto .

Eventually, the dragons took their children, Levy, and Lily back to the place that they'd discovered Igneel. Levy slept the majority of the way there, exhausted after the ordeal, and Gajeel made sure that she didn't slip off of Metalicana's slippery hide as he flew. When they'd arrived, he'd let Metalicana lower the sleepy woman rather than taking her himself, and Lily brought him down with a worried look.

"I think she'll be okay," Lily said anxiously as he curled up against Levy. The blue-haired mage simply chose to curl up where she'd been set in the sand with her bloodied leg wound turned to the sky, closing her eyes immediately.

A whine of protest left her when Natsu nudged her with a sandaled foot. "C'mon, Levy, ya can't stay here. We're gonna need to get out of the way so the dragons can get comfortable."

"I'll get her," Gajeel said gruffly, ducking down to scoop her up. She opened a sleepy eye to glare at him, Lily cradled in her arms. But she said nothing as he strode towards where their old carefully made fire rested. Natsu followed behind them, tugging the scarf away from his mouth, and Gajeel gave him a pointed look when he dropped to the ground, Levy still pressed against him.

"I'm going, I'm going," he growled, spitting a fireball at the wood that still remained.

Levy was still his nakama, even if she wasn't Lucy or Happy, and he wanted to make sure she was alright, too.

Metalicana's massive head lowered to study them with a glowing red eye, and Levy smiled faintly, reaching out to rest her fingers lightly on his metallic nose. "Thank you," she rasped, "For getting me out."

"Gihi," the monstrous creature laughed, looking amused as he clicked his jaws. "Like I'd let my brat's little one get killed."

Igneel turned his gaze on Natsu after a moment. "When are you going to help me with my bet?" he grumbled. "Pointless. I encourage that friend of yours and she merely hits me."

"The golden one hit you?" Metalicana cackled at that piece of news, eyes glittering with amusement. Levy giggled, knowing that her friend probably had hit the dragon for such a suggestion. Lucy didn't want to admit her feelings just yet, and anyone who pointed them out received such violence.

At least it wasn't an Erza-level violence.

Metalicana turned his attention back onto Levy, this time nosing lightly at her with the tip of his nose and chin, and Gajeel glared at him warningly when he pushed a little too hard and nearly forced them into the sand. "You must make sure that the little one is taken care of, Gajeel," he rumbled. "I don't like her hurt. If I hear you haven't gotten her seen to, I ain't gonna stop beating the hell out of you."

"I'll make sure Levy gets Wendy to look at her," he huffed. "I ain't stupid, old man."

"Can we use proper grammar please," Levy pleaded and then closed her eyes, falling asleep in seconds with Lily still in her arms. The Exceed didn't look like he would be trying to go anywhere, his eyes shut and a purr in his throat.

As Natsu jogged back to Igneel, not willing to part from his father for very long, Gajeel realized that they'd lost all of their supplies. "We're going to have to head back soon." He glanced up. "We don't have any food, and we can't drink the water in that cave over there-"

"Good." Metalicana pulled back, head resting in the sand. "It's time for ya to return to your ridiculously stupid guilds."

"What about you?" Gajeel asked gruffly, already knowing the answer somewhere in the back of his mind. He didn't want his father to leave, but…

Somehow, he'd known from the beginning that Metalicana wouldn't stay.

Not when they had yet to let the other dragon slayers know about what was going on.

He felt a stab of sorrow in his chest, though he wouldn't admit it. But something told the iron dragon slayer they hadn't seen the last of the dragons, and that some day, if he was lucky, he'd see him again.

"Igneel and I will go back into hiding in better places," the iron dragon said proudly, eyes flashing. "Where you runts won't find us. And if you do find us again, I'll rip you into pieces, you hear me?"

"I'm not gonna hunt your stupid ass down," Gajeel said with a roll of his eyes, glaring a little. "Who'd want to see you ever again, you shitty piece of junk metal?"

"Don't talk like that," Metalicana growled, narrowing his eyes. "The little one doesn't like it."

"Since when did you start paying attention to what a little human girl wanted?" Gajeel demanded, arching a pierced brow. He rolled his eyes at his old man's attitude when he scoffed and retorted that he didn't. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, you stupid dragon."

Natsu came to rejoin Gajeel at the fire after a while, when the sun was just starting to go down, and they exchanged a look. Usually, he couldn't give a damn about the stupid pink-haired fire mage who didn't care who he offended or about what he destroyed.

But in this, he knew better than anyone else what Natsu was feeling.

A hint of grief, yet relief at the fact that they'd found their dragons alive and well for the time being. And while it hurt - killed them - that they had to say goodbye for even a short time...at least they were sure they'd see them again in the future.

Gajeel raked a hand through his black hair with a grumble, never once tearing Levy away from his lap as she nuzzled against him, making him turn a hint of pink when Natsu smirked at them.

He couldn't wait to go home.

The next morning found all of them up bright and early. Levy was nearly as full of energy as Natsu, while Gajeel, who'd been up for quite some time, glared at both. They danced around excitedly, chattering about this and that until Metalicana commented that Levy was going to lose her voice pretty soon if she didn't shut up.

But he looked amused rather than worried, as if he was interested in her actually proceeding to do so.

Gajeel scuffed an iron-studded boot in the sand to finish putting out the remains of the fire Natsu had devoured earlier, and then planted his hands on his hips, looking around them. There'd been no sign of Eberos - thank the heavens above, he still wasn't sure about how Eberos had gotten to them as quickly as he had. There was no way he could have flown. Dragon slayers were human, even with the nonhuman abilities they possessed. He wasn't Rogue or Laxus, who could use their magic to transfer themselves to other locations. He was a dragon slayer, sure, but he hadn't been anything special.

Choosing to not question it, Gajeel turned his attention on other matters - matters that were more important than wondering about a dead man. Matters like watching as Metalicana playfully nosed "the little one", his eyes glowing with amusement as she gasped and flailed to keep her balance, Lily falling from her head. Hovering beside her, the Exceed gave the iron dragon a nasty look.

"Don't do that," she giggled. "You're going to knock people down."

"Then perhaps you shouldn't be so small," he retorted.

"I'm sorry that you're a massive creature capable of more destruction than Natsu, amazingly enough," Levy replied, making the dragon snort in amusement so that his breath washed over her with enough force to nearly knock her over a second time.

As the blue-haired woman scolded him, earning cackling laughter from Metalicana, Gajeel's piercing look turned to Natsu and Igneel. The fire mage had slowed down, his energy fizzling out as he came to the realization that they'd soon say farewell. He refused to go so much as an inch away from him, one hand resting on the red scales. His eyes already glittered with unshed tears, and he kept his free hand tight around his scaled scarf.

As if reading what Gajeel's thoughts had come up with, Igneel grunted, "It's time."

Metalicana paused in teasing Levy to look up and then he gave a heavy sigh. "Whatever. Come along, little one, time to go. Pantherlily, would you be so kind as to get my brat onto my back so that I can lift the little one?"

"I have a name," Levy muttered as his large jagged teeth gently caught her by the back of her shirt and lifted her. She scowled lightly, as if insulted that she was being thrown around in such a way, but said nothing as she was placed gingerly onto his slick back.

Gajeel wasn't far behind and both looked over Metalicana's shoulder as Lily latched himself onto Gajeel's. Natsu easily scrambled onto his father's back, grinning. He made his way up the dragon's neck and planted himself firmly on Igneel's snout.

"Natsu," Igneel snorted, "This is ridiculous."

"No, it's not," he protested with a pout like a child. "I used to do this all the time, and it's not like I'm going to fall off, right?"

"Not my fault if you do." Igneel carefully swung his head around, narrowing his eyes. "Are we leaving or not? I'd rather get this over with. I'm not fond of prolonging goodbyes."

That had most of their smiles disappearing. Levy's brown eyes lost their sparkle, and her gaze darted to Gajeel, who said nothing, only stared past her as if he didn't see her, his lips pressed together. Lily said nothing, and Natsu didn't look like he was pleased at all.

But no one said anything other than a "Let's go," from Metalicana. The iron dragon prepared to launch his massive body into the sky, and Levy flushed as Gajeel dug his fingers into Metalicana's slick iron hide, his arms coming around her. She could feel his breath on her cheek and neck, and it made her turn red in response.

Lily snickered, entirely amused with their situation, because he knew neither of them were as smart as they seemed to think when it came to such matters.

Levy swallowed thickly, her throat still somewhat sore from the sand that had coated it the day before, and struggled to focus on other things, but when Gajeel cackled about the situation under his breath, she only shied away. "Stop doing that," she mumbled, reaching up and pushing his face away slightly.

"Breathing?" He rolled his eyes, a sarcastic tone in his voice as he retorted," Sorry, shorty, I like breathing too much to give it up."

"You know what I mean," she snapped back, curling her head to the side to try and block his breath from touching her, but he only snickered and simply blew onto her until she reached back and smacked at him.

Lily snorted, rolling his eyes at their behavior. "You two are idiots," he reported, and then twitched his tail when Levy nearly lost her balance, having to grab onto Gajeel's arms as Metalicana lunged upwards. She slammed back against the iron mage, who didn't seem to mind as he lifted his chin to enjoy the rush of air a final time.

He knew without a doubt that it would be a while before Metalicana came back.

At least his shrimp would be around for that time.

Which reminded him...he still had something to do.

"Hey," he barked in her ear, shocking her. She jumped, head snapping up to look at him. He flinched when a few strands of hair somehow caught themselves in the piercings on his chin, and she blushed as she gently used a hand to pluck them free when Metalicana had leveled out, his heavy wings beating at the sky.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"You two are pathetic," Lily didn't hesitate to tell them, reminding them again that he was there. Levy shot him a look. He merely smirked at her, flicking her lightly in the arm with his tail like he hadn't just interrupted Gajeel when the iron mage was trying to tell her something that she assumed was important.

"Oi," Gajeel snapped, losing patience. He elbowed his cat just enough to get him to shut up and then prodded Levy sharply. "Listen to me, woman." Her hazel eyes lifted to meet his crimson gaze and the proud dragon slayer looked her in the eye for a moment before telling her furiously, "You ever go and try and get yourself killed in a desert like you did for a stupid job like this, I'm gonna chain you to a wall in the guildhall. Ya hear me, shorty?"

She blinked, and then gave him a sheepish smile. "Yes, I hear you. Sorry for making you guys all worry like that. It was technically Metalicana's fault though; he's the one that wouldn't let me tell you all how things were going."

Metalicana didn't say anything, though he rumbled beneath them.

"Thank you for coming to Lily and my rescue though," Levy added, and then kissed his cheek quickly before turning her face away. Gajeel stared at her with uncertainty, unsure of how to reply to such an action and Lily snickered to his friend, "Idiot."

Gajeel swatted at the Exceed. "The hell are you, Happy?"

"No, and I'm glad I'm not," Lily muttered. "You two should go talk with Mira. She could teach you a thing or two, I think." That earned another swat that nearly sent Lily flying.

Levy merely pretended she hadn't heard a word, not wanting to encourage her companion to continue what surely would have been a rough scolding.

The dragons chose a spot a couple miles to the west of Oak Town to descend, and the second that they hit land, Metalicana shook himself so that they went skidding over the side of didn't look concerned as he dropped into empty air, Lily still clinging to his shoulder, but Levy shrieked in fear. Metalicana rumbled in amusement, turning to lightly pluck her out of the air and set her safely on the sandy ground beneath them.

"Don't do that," Levy snapped, glaring up at him, her stomach feeling queasy.

"Gihihi," Metalicana mocked, not concerned. He lifted his head proudly as Igneel lowered his own, shaking Natsu off with difficulty. The dragon slayer purposely clung to him, scowling when he was finally dropped into the sand.

Lily deposited Gajeel gracefully on the ground and Gajeel ruffled Levy's hair lightly before turning his crimson eyes on his father. "Alright, you iron bastard. Where the fuck do we need to go from here?"

"Don't pretend you don't know," Metalicana retorted, tail sweeping sand towards them in a near playful manner. Levy had to fight back tears; she'd enjoyed her time with him, even if he had technically imprisoned her for a while.

"I don't want you to leave again," Natsu whined to Igneel, who rolled his eyes.

"The dragons will come back when they see fit, Natsu," he told his son, lightly pressing his nose against his chest in an attempt to comfort him. Levy's heart ached for the pink-haired fire mage. He'd searched long and hard for Igneel. And now that he'd finally found him...he was leaving again. "Tell your female friend that I said goodbye."

"Yeah." Natsu hugged Igneel as hard as he could, ignoring the scales that dug into what flesh showed. Lily shifted over to Levy's shoulder as Gajeel whacked on Metalicana's muzzle with a fist when he lowered his head to bid them farewell. Metalicana snorted in alarm; Levy smiled to herself.

"If you try and kidnap shorty here again," he told him, "Then I'm gonna kick your ass to the next century. You hear me, old man?"

"I will try," Metalicana mumbled, looking amused with the iron mage, "To not kidnap your little one, though it doesn't mean I won't in the future if I think I need to." His glowing red eyes darted to the solid-script mage for a moment, flashing with affection. "Take care of her, brat. You chose a special one that deserves more than what you can give."

"I can take care of myself, and I think Gajeel can give plenty of what I deserve," Levy rasped, stepping forward. She carefully leaned forward to press a kiss to Metalicana's jaw, not wanting to cut herself on the teeth that showed due to a parted lower jaw. "Thank you for your concern, Metalicana. And I'll make sure Gajeel's still in one piece when you come back."

"Gihihi," the dragon snickered, finally pulling away after a moment. Natsu finished his goodbyes, swiping at his eyes as he came to stand beside his nakama. Levy smiled, slipping her fingers into Gajeel's. He glanced at her, but said nothing, seeming smug about the matter instead as he let her.

They all looked at one another for a moment more, and then Igneel sighed heavily and rumbled, "Might as well give you a good story to tell…" He reared his head back, and then, without a moment's hesitation, roared.

The sound rang out through the sands, filling the blue sky with its harsh and painful sound, and Metalicana clicked his jaws excitedly before copying, screaming his own cry. Gajeel looked ready to hit something.

"Ryos and that blond bastard are gonna be all over us now," he snarled under his breath, making Levy laugh.

"I hope Wendy doesn't cry," Natsu sighed, not wanting to upset their dragon slaying friend. But he wore a grin that spoke of eager happiness, his grief still evident in his eyes yet mixed with the pride that came with being Igneel's son.

Even as the dragons rose high into the sky, disappearing from view, did Levy feel at peace.

It was nearly nightfall once more that they finally hiked into Oak Town, their clothes sticking to their bodies. Well, Levy's and Gajeel's did. Natsu looked perfectly normal as he eagerly began to look for Lucy's golden head every time they turned a corner, eager to see her and Happy.

Lily kind of just hung around on Levy's head, dozing in the heat.

Gajeel lifted the small woman over a piece of rubble that still decorated the main street, and Levy thanked him warmly before looking around. "This way," she instructed. She took a step around a corner - and then squawked as she was tackled to the ground by an excitedly shrieking Kenai. "You're back!"

"Kenai!" Levy laughed, hugging the boy with a warm look in her hazel eyes. Lily gave him a dirty look as he picked himself up from the ground. "We're back alright! This time for good, too."

"Hey, kid," Gajeel greeted gruffly. He ruffled Kenai's hair when he hopped to his feet, and then pulled Levy upright, too. "The hell are you doing out here?"

"Watching," was all Kenai said before darting back in the direction he'd come from. He was shouting for Lucy, she realized a second later, as well as Happy and a few others. Natsu hurried after him, his onyx eyes flashing and Levy exchanged a look with Gajeel and Lily before going after them.

When they reached where the guilds had been set up, they were greeted by a massive amount of commotion.

"Natsu!" Lucy shrieked, relief written across her exhausted face. Together, she and Happy tackled him in a tight hug, and he returned it. He pressed his head affectionately against Happy's as the blue cat sobbed happily, and then affectionately pressed his forehead to Lucy's, searching her dark eyes.

"You're back!" Mirajane cried as she bustled over, her blue eyes shining with excitement. "For good, we hope?"

"For good," Levy laughed. "We're done with the desert, believe me."

She'd be having nightmares about it for months.

"Gajeel!" Wendy practically screamed as she came flying past everyone. Sting and Rogue weren't far behind, and Levy knew immediately what they were there to talk about. "Th-there was...Gajeel, there was a dragon! Two of them, we heard them earlier, we have to go look tomorrow-"

"Metalicana threatened to tear me to pieces if we went looking for him again, so no, we ain't," Gajeel told her lightly, eyes glinting with a surprising amount of mirth.

Silence from the three dragon slayers, and then Sting exploded, "I thought you said-"

"They don't want you fuckers hangin' around asking where your parents are," Gajeel told he and Rogue and then turned back to the upset looking Wendy. "But don't worry, kiddo. Grandeeney's doin' good."

Wendy stared up at him with teary eyes, and then began to cry. "I...I'm so happy," she sobbed. "I just...I just wanted to know…"

"Aw, Wendy," Levy murmured, drawing the girl in for a hug as Gray and Erza began to berate Natsu for worrying them so much. Well, Erza did; Gray awkwardly hung around behind her, looking amused.

Rogue furrowed his brow. "Then the other dragon-"

"Igneel," Levy told him softly, stroking Wendy's hair and aware that several others were watching and listening, including her team. Jet and Droy looked shocked. "We met with Metalicana and Igneel...Metalicana saved Gajeel and I when Eberos turned on us and tried to kill us. He ended up nearly drowning us in sand when he attracted a linnorm's attention to us."

Confused questions were immediately called about the matter, but Mira cut them all off with a piercing look. "They can answer questions tomorrow!" she called. Immediately, everyone shut up and backed off, much to Levy's amusement. "For now, let's let them get some sleep. They look exhausted."

"Gihi," Gajeel snickered under his breath, and Levy elbowed him when he said, "Look at their scared asses. And they think Mira's scary."

MIra turned a bright smile on him. "What was that?"

Gajeel stiffened, and Levy stifled her laughter with a hand. "Nothin'."

"That's what I thought," the silver-haired woman said pleasantly and then sidled away, ushering everyone inside. Everyone - even those of other guilds outside of Sting and Rogue - did as she instructed and soon the five dragon slayers, Levy, Lily, Happy, Gray, Erza, and Lucy were left alone.

"So," Sting demanded, turning blue eyes back on Natsu and Gajeel. "They say anything about Weisslogia and Skiadrum?" Rogue looked just as interested, hopeful even, and Natsu shook his head.

"No," he replied, "But we're sure all of the dragons are safe for now. They are gonna come back. Igneel and Metalicana said so."

"I can't wait," Wendy breathed, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.

"Where's Charle, Wendy?" Levy asked as she patted her head with a laugh.

"Inside watching over a patient," Wendy mused, and then gasped and darted back. "Sorry, I have to go! See you later, guys!"

Sting and Rogue wandered back inside after her, heads close together as they spoke to one another under their breath, and before long, Natsu was heading inside, too, demanding that he be fed as his team followed. Lily snickered about something as he left Levy and Gajeel alone outside, and Levy flushed when she looked up to discover Gajeel squinting down at her through piercing red eyes.

"What?" she demanded.

"...can't decide. The fuck you like better, woman? Necklace or earrings?" He leaned closer and she had to fight the urge to lean away, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized he was looking at her ears. "Ain't pierced, but I could do it."

She looked startled, clearly not having expected that at all. "Um...both are equal? I've never had earrings, so that might be interesting, I guess?"

"Good." He ruffled her hair and smirked. "Then that's what you're getting'. We're gonna go get somethin' to eat, too, whether ya like it or not."

It hit her that this was his version of asking her on a date, and Levy couldn't help but burst into giggles, her eyes sparkling. "I'd like that very much," she gasped through her laughter, and then reached up to clasp her hands over his cheeks, yanking him down to her level. He grunted in shock when she simply pressed her lips to his and then pulled back to beam at her, amused by his gawking stare.

He blinked once, and then smirked, grabbing her hands and pulling her closer. "If ya wanted me, ya could have just said something, woman."

Levy blushed. "Shut up," she muttered, and then made a sound of delight when he kissed her again, her heart warm with affection for the man before her.

In the distance, Levy thought she might have heard the outraged scream of a frustrated animal. Perhaps even a human of some sorts. But she couldn't bring herself to care.

Slipping her fingers into his, Levy tugged Gajeel towards where she knew everyone waited, ready to pounce on them the first chance they got. "Let's get something to eat, I'm starving."

Gajeel didn't protest, a smug smirk on his face, and for the first time in his life, he didn't care if the dragons showed up again.

So long as Levy was around...he didn't think he'd care ever again.

This is the last chapter! I'll release the epilogue...tomorrow, actually, I want to release it soon.

There were questions about Eberos and what happened to him. I purposely left that open. I wanted that weird uncertainty that it brings. He might be alive, he might not. That's up for you guys to decide. In the mean time, I contemplating another fanfic involving him...

Thanks to reviewers (Guest #1 and SilverGhostKitsune!) as well as those who favorited and followed!