Hello everyone, and welcome to the second installment of Blue. So here's how it's gonna go: at the start of the chapter, I'm going to tell you a bit about the chapter. And then you get to read the actual chapter ^~^ (or you could just skip the info bit)

So in this chapter, we get to learn a little bit more about Jellal and see into Ultear's past. But I'm warning you now, the chapter ends in a cliffhanger. Beware.

Enjoy!

Part One:

Jellal

Chapter Two

The next morning, Jellal rose in a very groggy state. He brushed his teeth and all that, then proceeded to go downstairs to the kitchen for a cup of coffee to help wake himself up.

After finishing his coffee, Jellal felt very much rejuvenated. Smiling to himself, he went online to check the latest news in the area.

"There has been a kidnapping in the area" Jellal reads. He perks up a bit at the news. Normally, his area was a very peaceful place, so a kidnapping was very peculiar.

"The person kidnapped is known as Erza Scarlet, and authorities have already sent out multiple search parties." Jellal's eyes widen as he finishes reading the news article. Kidnapped? How? The woman he had met the past night did not seem to be someone who gave in easily, so her kidnapper must have been a truly powerful person.

"MORNING, JELLY! WHATCHA READING?!" Without warning, Jellal's step-niece pounces on him in greeting.

"The news..." Jellal replies. Meredy's eyes brighten in interest.

"Ooh, really? What's happening?" The excited pinkette read the article on the screen.

"Hey, isn't that the person on who drove you home last night?" Meredy asked Jellal.

"Yeah..." Jellal murmurs.

"Wow... Are you worried?" Meredy's former pep faded away to concern for her step-uncle.

"Yes, very. Because she seemed like someone who could defend herself easily." Jellal scanned the article for the third time, hoping there was something he had missed. Just so he could know she was safe... But, of course, there was nothing.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ultear asked, popping up out of nowhere behind her cousin and step-daughter.

"Morning, Ul! Jelly and I just found out that Jelly's girlfriend was kidnapped!" Meredy said, grinning widely. Ultear and Jellal stared at her slack-jawed. How could she be so happy saying something so tragic? Did she not understand the situation? She should have, especially after all the trauma in her childhood.

"Meredy..." Jellal murmured. The pinkette looked at him, her head slightly tilted, showing her curiosity.

"Yeah? What is it, Jelly? I was trying to be happy so you wouldn't be sad!" Meredy explained. Jellal looked confused for a moment, but then smiled and wrapped his arms around his step-niece.

"Thank you..." Jellal whispered. Ultear watched the two, smiling softly. Sometimes she wished she could be as pure as her cousin and step-daughter. After all, it was her fault the three of them lived in the outskirts of Era.

When Ultear was fifteen, about nine years before, she had been a trouble maker. Petty thievery, slight property damage, and unknown to Meredy, Ultear had been the cause of the forest fire that had turned the energetic pinkette's town to ashes. And Ultear had manipulated her cousin into helping her a few times.

In reality, Ultear was an evil woman. At least until she found out what had happened to Meredy.

One day, four years ago, Ultear had gone to a local orphanage to try and make-up for the terrible things she had done. There she met Meredy, a nine year old girl who had been in the orphanage for five years. Ultear didn't understand why. After all, the girl had such a bright and friendly personality. Until she heard the story of the girl's past.

It was a heart-breaking story. Meredy told Ultear how, when she was only four years old, her town had burned down due to a forest fire. At that moment, Ultear's heart stopped. She had stared at the girl, feeling guilty and rotten to the core. Meredy had stared at her in confusion. A few moments after, Ultear had recollected herself and quickly grabbed the pinkette orphan's hand. She had quickly run up to the orphan's caretaker, announcing that she wished to adopt the five-year orphan. That moment had been the best moment in Meredy's nine years of life.

And little orphan Meredy had grown into an amazing girl, making Ultear very proud... And a little sad, knowing she could've been like that.

Feeling a nudge on her shoulder, Ultear snapped out of her thoughts. She looked down and saw Meredy looking at her in a concerned way. Across the room, Jellal had a matching expression. Ultear raised an eyebrow.

"Ul! You started being distant and it made me worried! Don't ever do that again!" Meredy cried, hugging her step-mother's arm tightly.

"There, there..." Ultear whispered, patting the upset girl's head comfortingly, but at the same time she felt like she didn't deserve Meredy's concern.

"So... How about we check the weather?" Jellal asked, breaking the silence.

Ultear nodded slowly and turned on the weather, which was being reported by a blue-eyed, blue-haired young woman.

"Juvia is reporting about a huge storm headed towards Juvia's town, Magnolia," The weather woman said, pointing to a large red area on the map behind her. It reminded Jellal of Erza's hair, and the fact that the redhead was still MIA.

"Another storm?" Meredy groaned. Inwardly, Jellal completely agreed, but outwardly, he just smiled at the pinkette.

"I guess we should just stay here today, then," Ultear suggested. Jellal and Meredy nodded. So for the rest of the day they talked, until a Jellal received a mysterious call on his cell phone...

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail