All rights to Hiro Mashima

~ Twenty-second ~

-Lucy-

"This is the weirdest fucking meeting I've ever been to. Honestly. Why are we in the library? Three quarters of our guild is in here already, plus some extras. Dammit Master, do you have a fetish for watching us sweat in tiny rooms or something?" Cana somehow managed to drag a couple of barrels down into the library with her and is starting to express her annoyance for the Master's so called 'strategy session.'

To be completely honest…I agree wholeheartedly with her on this point. I raise my hand and wait for the Master to look at me with questioning eyes. "Uhh…also…why are we meeting in the first place? I thought we just had to go out and look for signs of Ivan at this point. Natsu's magic is back in his body, his memories are…foggy…yes, but we can work with that."

Master doesn't give anything away except muttering the phrase 'waiting on some slow asses,' hops up onto a wide table and proceeds to take a quick snooze, using an ancient dictionary as a make shift pillow.

I watch as the meeting between our now extremely extended group dissolves into excited chatter all around me.

Natsu had only woken up last night when everyone was away from the guild. We had fallen asleep wrapped around each other. Unfortunately for us, the one person who we didn't want to walk in on us while we were like that, was the one person who did.

We were woken up by a shriek, which roused us out of the infirmary bed in a nanosecond, both Natsu and I sprung into defensive postures completely on instinct, ready to take on the hordes of demons that had the utter gall to wake us from the best damn sleep that we had had all week.

But in actuality it was just one demon.

Mirajane.

After rushing up to us and demanding to be my bridesmaid for the upcoming wedding as well as the godmother for my swathes of children I would soon be pushing out of my vagina, Mira had whisked me out of the room, plunked me down at the bar with a smoothie and plied me for details of what she was now coining 'the sordid affair in the infirmary.'

Natsu acted oblivious. Which was no help to me in that time of crisis.

I knew all his tells now and could see the knowing smirk trying to creep up his stupid handsome face.

He had some fucking nerve.

And then Gray had come waltzing into the guild dressed only in his boxers. Crowing like a goddamn lunatic about how 'he would pound his icy ass into the ground' Natsu started a guild wide brawl that lasted most of the morning. Everyone had been eager to join in, commenting on how the guild just wasn't right without Natsu throwing fucking fireballs at the roof yelling 'fight me' at everything that moved within a twenty metre radius.

I hadn't had a chance to talk to him at all after that. Everyone had either grabbed his attention, or offered him congratulations on getting his magic back. Once or twice I saw him pleading me with his eyes to rescue him, but I just stuck my tongue out at him instead and laughed at his misfortune.

I am a petty woman, but I enjoyed my small victory.

He deserved all the torture he was going through. He had thrown me to the metaphorical wolves when he stayed completely mute while I had to fend off the demon this morning. He needed to pay.

Master had put a stop to most of the commotion after lunch by slamming his hand down onto Natsu creating a crater in the stone floor and demanded that the group centered around helping Natsu out with his magic meet in the library for yet another debrief and question slash answer session.

Yay.

At least Natsu can control his fire now, no more sweltering heat for us.

So that's where we are at the moment. Natsu is bashing heads with Gray and Gajeel, spewing insults while trying to keep from smiling at each other in a perverse sense of glee. The Exceeds are quietly talking together, sitting on a corner of the same table Master is passed out on. Thunder thighs and his groupies are chatting about where they should go to look for Ivan next. Jellal, Kageyama, Erza and Midnight of all people, are speaking earnestly about the kind of training that Celia – Kage's adorable daughter – should get. Hoteye is looking over some maps with the help of Levy and Racer, pinpointing sightings of Wally with a magic pen. Meredy, Mira, and Cana have the drunk's betting book out, eyes gleaming and shipper senses tingling. Juvia is creeping on Gray from behind a bookshelf, her mind obviously in some perverted fantasy of hers, while Wendy and Romeo are laughing at the ridiculous insults coming out of Natsu and Gray's mouths.

Gildarts was sitting perfectly still trying not to accidentally destroy any of the books around him and incur Levy's wrath.

And here I am, standing next to Cobra and Angel – who are having a heated exchange about something that has to do with the size of Cobra's man piece – just listening to the sounds of my family growing and changing around me.

I hear a startled noise beside me. "You think of us as your family? Already? Even after we tried to dissolve you into a clock that would bring about the apocalypse?" Obviously Cobra could hear my thoughts…or is it my soul? I wish I knew more about his magic.

"Yes, I do. I know the circumstances were shitty and I know that you have learned your lesson and are trying to repent." At their incredulous gazes I sigh. "Look, guys, we all have things that happen in the past, but we have to move forwards and work together on this. I want to be your friend. I already consider you part of my extended family."

I smile sweetly at their dumbfounded faces. "Damn sugar tits. You're just way too trusting. And you forgive way too easily. But…we are sorry. I…I'm sorry about the whole clock-fish-sacrifice thing. We had a lot of time to think it over in prison."

"No worries Cobra. It's already been forgotten. Just look how everyone is mingling together, working as a cohesive whole. I know that you won't trust us right away, but that's okay for now."

We all slightly jump as a loud bang and several crashes are heard from out in the main hall. The way that both Gajeel, Natsu, and Cobra have perked up has an apprehensive shiver racing down my spine. 'Oh this can't be good.'

Natsu cackles with barely restrained mirth. "Fuck yah! He's here! I can't wait to beat his ass into the floor again." He cocks his head to the side. "Looks like he brought his shadow with him as well. Oh, and Yukino."

'If Yukino's here, that means…'

"Yo, Natsu! You up for that sparing match now old man?" Ugh. Sting.

Froche and Lector look incredibly happy to see all the other Exceeds and they all start to talk in low voices together.

"Shuddup you stupid light bulb. I wiped the floor with you and Rogue the last time we fought. What makes you think that you could even possibly beat me this time?" Natsu is already up in Master Sting's personal space. There is a reckless glint in Sting's eyes that screams property damage and the death of many many books. 'Levy is going to cry. So is Freed.'

Quickly realizing what his friend has planned, Rogue is as fast as lightning while grabbing the back of lightbulb's collar, effectively clothes-lining him into blessed silence. "Enough Sting. Don't you have any manners at all?"

Rogue turns towards Master and bows respectfully rousing him from his impromptu nap. "You requested our presence Master Markarov. I can only assume it has something to do with Yukino's magic, correct?"

"Yes. I left that message for you over a week ago, where the hell have you been?" Master casts a skeptical eye at the two boys in front of him.

"Uhm…well…you see…" Both Sting and Rogue are fumbling with their explanations.

Until Yukino bursts their bubble and rats them out. "We walked. All the way from the forest east of Crocus. Because someone is a gigantic cry baby when it comes to trains."

Ten guesses as to who the cry baby is. My money's on Sting. I doubt Rogue is all that stoic on transportation either though.

"Never mind. Sting, Rogue, Yukino, this is the guild named Crime Sorciere, most of them were from the dark guild Oracion Seis and have since seen the error of their ways. This is their leader, Jellal Fernandez one of the former wizard saints. As well as this man here, Kageyama. He broke the seal on the lacrima holding Natsu's magic." The room fills with a stiff tension and silence waiting on what the Saber's have to say about the illegal guild currently standing before them.

No one bats and eye. "That's nice. What's your point exactly?" Sting drawls. Rogue looks bored. Yukino is casting interesting glances into my corner. Is she trying to catch my eye?

No. She's looking at Angel.

Cobra leans over towards me. "Her actual name is Sorano. She's Yukino's long lost sister."

Well, fancy that. The demon in the swan costume to my right is actually related to the sweetest most precious Celestial mage of all time.

Go figure.

Cobra lets out a loud bark of laughter at my visions of Sorano as an actual swan. Like who needs to be swathed in so many feathers all the time? "Dammit sugar tits. Your soul is fucking amazing. I've never seen something so convoluted and expressive in my life." He grins deviously down at me. "I think I'm in love."

And then he winks at me. I think. I still can't tell, the man has only one eye for Mavis' sake.

He laughs even more at my face as it blanches. I turn towards all my friends for help and realize that everyone is completely silent, no doubt wondering how I got the taciturn grumpy Cobra to actually laugh.

Twice.

I look at Natsu and he has a strange expression on his face, something that I can't place for the life of me. But his eyes are blazing with either fury or the urge to fight, it's really hard to distinguish those in him because they literally go hand in hand when it comes to Natsu.

I clear my throat and laugh nervously. Master continues after a moment of staring hard at both Cobra and I. "Yes, well…we can talk about the love you hold for each other later. I was saying that you mages from Sabertooth must not talk about the people you have seen here. We could get in a huge amount of trouble if the council learned that we are harbouring so many criminals underneath our roof. I would probably go to prison."

"No problem at all. We owe you big time for the GMG anyways." Sting impresses me in his ability to act mature in this situation.

"But I don't really care either way. Unless Cobra will fight me. Then I'll care." Ah, yes, the immaturity is strong with this one. No wonder he looked up to Natsu as a child.

"Master Sting, might I enquire why you are here with us and not at your own guild? Couldn't you have just called to answer Master Markarov's question?" Freed gets straight to business thankfully, I can already see betting computations in Cana's eyes about whether or not Cobra and I will hook up.

I ignore the hearty snort from beside me. I don't need to give the demon's circling us any more ammunition than they already have, so I don't turn towards Cobra. Besides, my eyes are all on Natsu at the moment, drinking up his tanned skin and ebony eyes…which are looking right into mine. I can't help but stare at him. If he's going to wear a vest with no shirt, I sure as hell won't keep my eyes from wandering all over.

I miss him by my side. When his memories were lost, he stuck to me like glue, like an overly attached toddler, but I miss his warmth and companionship and secret touches. UGH, it's been half a day and I'm pinning over the loss of his body beside mine.

Snapping back to the present, I see the Sting and company have an abnormal apprehensive expression plastered on their faces. Even Rogue looks mildly concerned. "We decided to come here, where the majority of the strongest mages in Fiore reside. If Luce and Yuki are in danger, it couldn't hurt to have all the Dragon Slayers, Titania, the strongest crash mage Earthland has ever seen, a former and current wizard saint as well as Gray…I guess...under the same roof. Small dark guilds have been popping up all over the place lately, probably due to Ivan, we had to evade one for a whole day when we were on the road."

Gray looks annoyed that he is tagged on like an afterthought.

I'm surprised that Sting used the nickname that Natsu gave me. Most people know that it's off-limits unless you wanted to get a rise out of the pink haired idiot.

'Oh, I see.' Sting wanted a fight so bad that he is willing to bait Natsu into it by stepping all over what he considers 'his property.'

Surprises abound today apparently because Natsu isn't even listening to Sting anymore, he's still watching me with that weird look in his eyes. 'What the hell is that look? I've seen it before…what does it mean?'

I jump slightly when Cobra leans over close to my ear and whispers so low I don't think even the Dragons could hear him, "He's undressing you in his mind. Not that I mind really, you are incredibly hot." I smack Cobra's arm that's closest to me, and then what he said actually registered in my mind.

'Oh Mavis.' And then my brain went dead for the rest of the meeting while my face looked like a perpetual flaming tomato. I couldn't help but sneak peeks at Natsu as well though, and was oddly thankful to Cobra in some fucked up way for telling me.

Natsu and I obviously had things to talk about. Hopefully sooner the better, the tension is killing me.