Hey guy's I know I'm still working on a few other stories at this current moment in time but my real life is a little hectic right now trying to balance my work and social life, so I'm bringing to you this WHOLE! Brand new story! That me and my fiancé have been talking about and I just can't get the idea out of my head, so this story is brought to you by CureDream90 and Articdragonslayer!

WARNING SLIGHT LEMON IN THIS CHAPTER

Chapter 7

Tick, Toc , Tick , Toc, the grandfather clock in the room slowly moved around the face, silence was cascaded around the room, There stood an elderly man, looking quite shocked at Lucy. His left eye brow slightly twitching, and the girl could pick up a slight growl in his throat.

"Knock? Knock? ….KNOCK KNOCK! THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SAY AFTER LEAVING 8 YEARS AGO! After putting us all through so much pain! Not knowing whether you was alive or not?" Lucy flinched at his tone, looking down at the floor, sadness and guilt radiating off her body traveling up into the dragon slayers nose. He was about to say something when he heard his mate, "I'm sorry Artie… I really am…"

Footsteps shuffled across the beigh carpet, but Lucy didn't dream of looking up, she clenched her eye's shut as if to wait for the man to hit her, yell or do something to help his anger.

But it never came, no…what surprised the celestial mage was arms being wrapped around her, pulling her into a warm hug. "it's so good to see you Kiddo, I was so worried about you" she bit her lip, struggling to get her arms around his rather large stomach "Sorry Artie, I'll explain where I've been later"

After all the emotional stuff was out of the way they was all sat down at the dining table, Laxus with his arms crossed looking at the three people Lucy had once called family, they was a strange mixture and them damn furry eye brows was creeping him out, at one point he thought they had actually winked at him.

"I see, I'll have to look into this, the only other known artefact that had lingering effects was the music box…. So the Downside of the metronome will allow you to feel each-others pain but it won't give you a location on where he is." Artie spoke, rubbing his unshaven beard, giving a sigh Lucy nodded, "We don't exactly know why Jinksy is being targeted either, or who even has him, all I know is that he's hurt and I have to find my friend."

She bit her lip, but felt a warm comforting hand on her shoulder, "We will find him together blondie, if his scent is still lingering here, we can track him by that, we will just have to search every inch of this dessert until we do, and even then we wont give up. It's not our way" Laxus could see that his words had given his mate flash of hope in her eyes, nodding "that's right, we didn't come all the way across the ocean just to leave and not know what trouble Jinksy is in"

Artie looked between the two, something was strange about the way the teenager acted around the man, "If you don't mind me butting in, but who exactly are you to Claudia?"

A large grin was placed on Laxus face showing Artie his unnatural dragon teeth, "I'm her Mate old man, and she's mine" "MATE? But I thought Claudia said you two were dating?" Pete exclaimed, the blonde female sighed rubbing her temples, she knew the moment they had mated that this would cause a lot of headaches, Especially since Pete was worse than Natsu at being an idiot.

"No it means a completely different thing to us little man, We do come from Fiora after all so you wouldn't really understand the concept, you see the markings on our necks? That's how people can tell we are mated." Laxus tried to explain without telling them about the details of magic being involved but Lucy let out a groan.

"Pete, you know like the Artefacts basically hold magical powers in them?" she spoke, and he nodded, "Well Me and Laxus hold magical powers inside our body's, listen guys I left 8 years ago for a reason. I wasn't born here in America, I'm actually a Citizen of Fiora the lost country to the south" She spoke, but they all looked confused. "Kiddo, if your using powers then it means that there is an Artefact inside you." The old man spoke, taking a sip of his tea from the rather large mug in front of him.

Taking in steady breaths, closing her eye's counting to 10, a method she had come up with when Natsu wasn't listening to what she was saying, "Me and Laxus are Mages….Wizards with magical powers….i'm only telling you this because I'm also going to have to explain to Laxus later about Artefacts….. including the Warehouse" All three around the tables mouths went wide, Eye's about to buldge out of their heads.

"Nice going Blondie, I think you broke them…." "Shut it Sparky, if they can believe in magical objects, then they will have to wrap their heads around this." She spoke standing up going over to the coffee maker to refill her mug.

Myka was the first one to snap out of her stunned expression, "Wait hold up," She held an index finger into the air, "So all them fairy tales…..About Merlin were true?" giving a slight shrug, Lucy sat back down, "Now I don't know if that's true, but Magic and Mages do exist in the world Myks, Me and bolts can prove that but I'd rather do it in the dessert where it isn't going to attract a lot of attention."

She looked over to the other two males in the room, and she saw Pete's face light up, "So your basically super hero's! I knew they were real! I tried to tell Myka all this time but she just put it down as made up crap, what magic do you use? Do you have to recite any incantations? CAN YOU SHOW ME!" He stood up, bouncing about like a little child which caused Laxus to groan, "Great…another Natsu At least this one isn't asking for fights and setting things on fire." The blonde stellar mage could only agree on it.

"Later Pete, as of now it's getting late Myka?" the brunette looked up to the gentle smile of her friend. She had never seen her look so gentle, so harmless "would you like to help me cook dinner?" That was it, Artie dropped his coffee, and Pete stared like she was an alien. "YOU CAN COOK!"

"Duh, you don't think I was able to keep this sexy body living on take outs did you?" She struck one of her sexy poses, almost giving Artie a nosebleed, and All Pete could do was stare at her large chest, "I didn't even know they was that BIG!" Once them words left his mouth he suddenly regretted it, crackles of electricity was coming out of Laxus, with a glare that said back off.

"Lets leave the men in here Claudia, I'd like to ask you a few questions about how you managed to get such a sexy looking guy in the first place," before leaving the dining room, Lucy gave her mate a kiss on the cheek, "Don't hurt them please….."

"I'll try not to, if that prick looks at your tits again, I'll make sure I shock him into next week," with a laugh she shook her head and walked out of the room.

Kitchen

"So Claud, is all that you really said true? About you being a mage? But wouldn't that make you a witch not Wizard?" Lucy couldn't help but blink a few times before taking off her jacket and begun laughing "Witches use cauldrens and broom sticks to fly on Myks, Mages don't Some mages do have the ability to fly but it depends on their magic, also with Mages we have limits to how much magic we can use a day once it runs out we have to rest for at least 24 hours until we re-charge it."

The brunette nodded taking in the information while Lucy took out a chopping board and some ingredients for a simple chicken with sauce and veg. "So what's the secret of you not aging then? You still look the same age as before you ran away?" A nervous chuckle was heard, "Well you've heard of Tenoru island right? Overheard you and Pete wanting to check it out at one point to see if they had a resort?"

A slight nod motioned for her to continue, "Turns out that Island is actually owned by the guild me and Laxus is in, we went there for the s-class exams, which determins on how much of a strong mage you are and the island was attacked trying to destroy our guild, we managed to beat their master but then as we was getting ready to go home we was attacked by a large black dragon!"

The brunette Gasped stopping her motions of getting pans out, "as it launched an all out attack on us, the first master of my guild appeared and used a lost spell called Fairy Sphere, it protected us, but for us 1 week went by, but to everyone else in the world…. 7 years had passed. So much had changed within those 7 years too, our guild was reduced and deeply in debt, new guilds rose up…. That's why I haven't come to visit in so long, I was trapped on an island"

She finished chopping the onions and placed them into the frying pan, hearing the sizzling, she looked passed Myka into the dining room, "Laxus had been banished from the guild at that time so we didn't expect him to come to our rescue…. He's a great man, lost his way a little bit but he'll always there to protect his family."

"I see, That sounds exactly like what Steve did for us during the whole Marcus sykes ordeal, I'm glad to see you happy now though, but are you really going to show him the warehouse? You know the approval has to go through the regents!" the girl just shrugged, "He's my mate Myks, if I remember correctly, Mrs F said we could tell that person who is our ONE! And Laxus is that to me, You see, with our types of magic once we've mated, we will be with that person for life, Soul mates if you wish to call it that."

Clanking of plates could be heard, then the cutlery clanking together, "I see I know your only giving me the basics here Claud but I wish you could give me more details, it's not li-" she was cut off when she noticed the girls grip on the knife had tightened, "Shhh….. someone's watching us… Laxus!" in one swift movement Laxus was out of the inns door. Only to have a loud crash be heard, and then his voice booming, "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE ICE PRICK! AND PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!"

Both girls looked to each other and ran out of the door only to see Laxus holding a dark haired man by the neck, who was only in his boxers, Myka was about to do something when Lucy walked up to the man and poked his chest, "What the hell Gray! How the hell did you manage to get here?"

"I'll tell you when bolt breath puts me down!," a growl emerged from the lightening's slayers mouth, before throwing him inside the house crashing into the wooden stairs, "there I put you down! Now explain! This is an S-class mission Ice Prick!" None of the none magical people could do anything apart from being stunned.

"I followed you simple, I was worried About Lucy when she suddenly collapsed the other day! She's a little sister to me of course I wasn't going to leave her alone with the likes of You!" Gray's voice was laced with venom, "And now you've forced her to be your mate! I remember what you said during the whole Phantom Lord ordeal! You wouldn't help us protect the guild unless she was your woman!"

Laxus was about to hit him but his lovely woman beat him to it, "GRAY! Don't you DARE! Speak to him like that! You had NO! right to follow us here, claiming that your my so called 'Brother' when you haven't even spoken to me in two months! Laxus didn't force me into anything, he hasn't taken advantage of me or even brainwashed if that's what you're thinking, He was there for me after gramps disbanded our team because YOU couldn't stop destroying things, Same with Natsu and Erza"

"But Luce…" "Don't fucking but Luce me! You left me ALONE! Gray, now get up and put some fucking clothes on before Myka here arrests you for indecent exposer, then apologise to everyone! When we contact Gramps you WILL! Explain to him on your actions, and you WILL! Accept whatever punishment he has for you!" Gray couldn't believe it, he had thought Lucy would be happy that he was there, suddenly hanging his head "Lucy I'm…." but she cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it, I'm too Fucking pissed off with you at the moment," She rubbed her temples, she could feel a migraine coming along, but felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see Artie there giving her a gentle look, "hey Kiddo why don't you go sit down and rest Myka and I don't mind finishing up dinner now that we've got one extra person to cook for since I assume he's staying?"

She groaned leaning her head on his shoulder, "Yeah he is pooh bear, as much as I'd like too, I can't tell him to go home…..he's too stubborn plus…. I'm not that cold hearted to send him away, I'm sorry for his trouble" he shook his head giving a soft smile, "It's ok kiddo, but he DOES! Have to put some clothing on,"

Gray looked between the two, he had heard everything through the window on how she knew these people, and sighed but jumped when a set of jeans and black button up shirt was thrown at him, he looked up to see Pete standing there, "Put these on, Your just about my size, don't lose them, there designer." He stood up pulling on the jeans "Thank you,"

With that out of the way, Lucy sat down on the sofa leaning into Laxus strong arms his sent of Pine and forest relaxed her, he wrapped one arm around her waist. Gray was sat in the arm chair hanging his head still moping about, he wreaked of guilt, it made the Dragon slayer rather sick to his stomach, How can someone ignore someone so pure and then expect them to forgive so easily? The members of team Natsu had put his girl in so much heartache that sent him into a fit of anger.

3 hours later 9.30pm

Lucy was sat outside in the Patio with a small thin blanket wrapped around her slender shoulders, a cup of warm tea sat in her small hands keeping them warm. Surprisingly even out in the desert when it became night time, the air began to get cooler.

She looked up at the stars with a small sad smile on her face, she remembered sitting out on this very patio with Steve sometimes talking, Laughing having a few sneaky beers. Tomorrow she and Laxus would Enter Steve's room to try get his scent, she had tried to remember it from 8 years ago but all she could remember was the smell of incense sticks. It wouldn't be enough to track him throughout the whole of South Dakota.

Lucy tried to look into the clear sky but it was hard to make out constellations in the city, she knew where they were but the sight of the diamonds in the sky calmed her, it made her feel one with her magic. Closing her eyes, she began counting the constellations she knew by heart when she heard feet coming towards the patio and a familiar scent hitting her nose.

"I know you're there Pete, it's useless trying to sneak around" she laughed when hearing his mutter, 'damn! She had her eye's closed how did she know I was there?'

"I know Pete because of my increased sense of smell and hearing, oh sorry I never did go into detail about my magic did i?" he took a seat next to her, while sipping some De-caffinated tea, "No you didn't," she looked over to him, he was only in a pair of grey sweatpants and a black T-shirt, he held a smile on his face, but that soon faded when he noticed her sad expression.

"Were going to find him Claud, I promise and you know I never go back on my word right?" he reached over the table taking her gentle hand, he was surprised by the contact of her skin, it was a lot smoother than he remembered almost like silk, they was a lot more delicate, no nail varnish or rings dotted about but he was interested about the pink insignia on her right hand.

Giving her hand a slight squeeze trying to give her some confidence, "I know we will, I just miss him you know? I always regretted leaving without saying goodbye, especially to him." She took a deep breath, "I should have explained to all of you why I had to leave that night, I was just being a coward, running away from my problems again."

"Well…..why don't tell me now? We know you went to become this might Mage in a guild hell you even changed your name," at that he heard a small giggle out of her mouth, "My name's always been Lucy, i don't feel like telling you the whole story yet, but I can tell you it's because my mother was a mage also, she was beautiful and kind her magic was so beautiful. She used Magic called Celestial Magic,"

"Celestial? That sounds very pretty" he watched her nod her head, "It is, and I think it's a magic that you will like also, you once told me that your dad taught you about constellations right?" at that point it was his turn to nod, and the smile brightened more on her face, "From being a little girl, as far back as I have of memories of my mother, she taught me all about the constellations too, it was important for me to learn them as being a Celestial wizard means you work with the spirits of them constellations."

Pete couldn't believe it, his face had lit up like a child on Christmas, "Really? That's so cool! How does it work?" Lucy couldn't help but laugh again, this was one of the reasons why she liked him, He acted like such a child, she took her hand out of his and stood up, opening the brown leather pouch on her hip bringing out a ring of keys handing them to him, "I trust you, so please don't break them, These are called Gate keys, each one opens a different gate, connecting them to their constellation, As you can see, there are silver and gold ones, now the silver keys are common, and they don't use up too much of my magic, whereas the Gold keys are extremely rare, These are called the Zodiac keys, there are only 1 set of twelve ever made, And as you can see I own 10 out of the twelve."

Gently rubbing his thumb over a gold key that held the symbol for Taurus he smiled looking up, "That's amazing! My old man would have loved to know about this stuff, Can you show me how they work? Would I be able to use them?"

His question was soon answered with a sad smile, "I can show you but unfortunately you can't, you see when first summoning a spirit from the Celestial realm they make a contract with that wizard, and once they are contracted they are bound to that one wizard until either they break the contract or…..they die" the older male suddenly felt is heart skip a beat, it wasn't because of he couldn't use them, but he didn't want to think about Lucy dying. "I see…."

"So which spirit do you want to meet? I um….don't recommend Aqaurius…" he noticed her cringe slightly and then looked over them, he'd love to see a Zodiac spirit, and picked one up. "This one!"

Taking the key she smiled, and then suddenly got into a sort of fighting stance, holding the key in front of her, there was a smile on her face but her eye's were slightly serious, "Open! Gate of the Lion! Leo!"

Pete Lattimers eye's widened as a shower of gold filled the air, her hair whipped about to the invisible wind created in the circle, and not a moment later, a shower of stardust appeared creating a form of a man, but his jaw soon dropped when that man suddenly ran towards Lucy kneeling down, "PRINCESS! You actually summoned me on this lovely night!"

An angry vain suddenly pulsed on her forehead, "Loke! You stupid flirt, I didn't call you out here for that!"

The man soon stood up, straightening out his orange polo t-shirt, the collar flight up and pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "You break my heart every time with them words Princess, in any case what can I do for you apart from being marvelled by your lovely beauty!"

Pete quickly stood up and walked around the table, circling the spirit, "wow….just ….Awesome!" he reached his hand out and poked Loke in the arm, "H…he's in a human form? I was kinda expecting a large Lion to come out of nowhere."

A sigh came out from the leader of the zodiacs, and turned to Pete, "Princess I thought you said you couldn't use magic in front of American humans?" "I can with Pete, he won't judge me, he was one of the few people in America I could trust, Pete meet Leo or as I know him as Loke, the leader of the 12 Zodiac keys, and my Strongest spirit. Loke, this is Pete Lattimer"

Loke held his hand out and smiled, "Any friend of my princess is a friend of mine, it's nice to meet you Pete, I could hear your conversation back in the spirit world, I apologise for ease dropping Lucy, but I couldn't help but notice that you was feeling down. I was actually close to opening my own gate until I felt a sudden rush of happiness again."

Pete took the hand and gave it a good firm shake, "it's so awesome to meet you, I wish my old man was here right now, he would have done anything to be able to see this, Claud your magic maybe the only one I've seen so far but I love it, thank you for giving me this opportunity", watching the two males, as a smile crept onto her face, "your welcome, Loke, stay out for a long as you wish too, I think I'm going to join Laxus upstairs before going to bed."

Pete gave the girl a hug, "Goodnight Claud, and thank you, you didn't have to do this for me, I don't want to drain your magic for something so selfish…." Chuckling, he felt her slender arms around his waist, "Your welcome, you'll most likely see this flirt around more often then not, he likes to open his own gate, Now if you excuse me boys" with that she turned giving them a wink before heading inside before giving her Loke a chance to talk.

He turned to Pete and smiled sitting down taking a sip of Lucy's coffee she had left, "So what would you like to know?"

FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT

And that's all folks! So that's where Gray's been hiding! He followed them all the way to America!

Will Lucy forgive him?

What will Laxus think to this Warehouse she's going to show him?

Will they find jinksy?

Curedream90! Over and out!