Lucy paid for their room for another night, then, with the change tucked into her pocket, she went to the only clothing shop Magnolia still offered, Barbra Cotty's Fine Threads. It used to be a nice store, though a little on the expensive side. Now it was still expensive, what with everyone trying to rebuild while still eking out a meager existence, but it's facade was no longer pristine. Tartarus had destroyed more than half of the building. The one side where the Men's section used to be was totally torn down. A huge blue tarp kept out the rain while the owners tried to organize renovations.

As soon as she walked in, a large woman wearing a white dress that looked more like a bedsheet as it fell over her massive rump, picked her bulk up from the struggling stool she sat upon and waddled to the half-crooked front door.

"Good morning, Miss." She had a girly voice, one that didn't befit her size. Her face, as round as the moon, was expertly done up in makeup. Her eyes were bright and lively, a beautiful shade of gold-flecked brown, while her hair, a soft mouse brown, was meticulously brushed.

"Good morning." Lucy smiled. "I'm looking for a dress for a date tonight. Do you have anything that's affordable? I'm on a budget."

Disappointment flitted behind the woman's eyes; her face cleared half a second later, though. In Magnolia, beggars couldn't be choosers these days. "I think I have just the thing." She got her rump motivational, waddling with great purpose to the back of the room. Lucy, unsure if she should follow or not, wandered behind more slowly, marvelling at all of the things she didn't have money to buy, not that she'd ever felt frivolous before, but she'd always had money before, even when she'd griped about things being tight. She sighed, feeling very much like an uprooted plant.

Things will get better once you get this job. Natsu wasn't very happy with her, she knew, not that she was making things any easier either. I'll make it up to him, she thought with conviction, though she didn't know how.

"Size?" the woman asked, her high voice bringing Lucy back to reality.

Lucy told her. The girl went searching through a rather thin looking rack and came out with a red halter dress that dipped low in the front, climbed high in the leg, and, once it was on, would cling to every little curve she had. "How is this?"

"Oh."

"Oh?" The woman raised her pencil thin brow.

'Oh, it's more revealing than I'd planned?'

"This is the most affordable dress we have in stock," the woman said before Lucy could complain. "Not only that, it's the only one I believe will fit you."

Lucy wavered, yet she was trapped either way. "Sure. I'll take it." Her sandals would look cute with it, too. Perfect.

The woman rang her up and said a discomfited goodbye. Lucy waved and, with trepidatious steps, headed back to the hotel room she shared with Natsu.


The dragon slayer was still by himself when Lucy arrived, and it seemed like his mood hadn't improved very much. He sat at the table in the same position as when she'd left, his chin firmly stapled to his hand.

"I got our room for us for another night," Lucy reported, apprehensive to shatter the wall of silence but refusing to live like mutes for as long as they were staying together.

"Thanks." The reply came short and clipped.

"And I got my dress. Pretty great, right?" Ooooorrrrr not, judging by the fierce scowl he wore. She produced from her pocket his change, setting it on the scratched table in front of him. "That's what's left over. And," she said with forced lightness, "I got you something, too."

Natsu lifted his hand from his palm and studied her warily. "What?"

Lucy held out the second bag she carried. He took it cautiously until the smell rose and hit his nose. Deep fried batter, cinnamon sugar. His stomach grumbled loudly.

"Yeah?" His voice sounded more hopeful, like maybe he'd been having second thoughts about this getting back together thing, but this one act was healing.

"Yeah," Lucy agreed, hopeful herself. "Go ahead."

Natsu opened the bag like a starving man and grinned when he saw the donut. "Terry's bakery is still kicking?"

Lucy scrunched up her nose and said with as much tact as she could, "Not really. His son is running it out of a tent over on Main Street."

"Where's Terry at?" the dragon slayer questioned.

Lucy sighed, knowing when she bought the treat this inevitable question would arise. "He was killed, Natsu, in the attack. The bakery was right in the line of fire."

Natsu got quiet. Lucy thought he wouldn't eat the donut. He surprised her by finding something to look at out the window and silently munching on the treat. Lucy left him to his thoughts, the clock not-so-quietly ticking on the wall, and went to the washroom to get ready.


It was too clingy by half. Way more revealing than anything she'd worn before. The dress said more, 'I want this night to end in your apartment' than, 'I'm looking for work and I really need you to help me out.' She entertained wearing the clothes she'd come in but scratched that idea a moment later. It's fine. Nothing has to happen. She'd had more than enough of men recently, anyway. They always seemed to complicate things in surprising ways. With some help from you, to be sure.

She wondered after Gray again, imagining what that reunion was going to be like. Awkward as all hell, if he bothered to show. And Juvia? Lucy almost cried thinking about the mess. Deal with that after.

Using her fingers, she combed her hair. The air around her shimmered. Lucy paused, fingers tangled in a particularly gruesome knot, and watched Virgo appear.

"Princess."

"What are you doing here, Virgo?" Lucy asked.

The spirit held out a brush and a slew of cosmetics. "I understand you have a date tonight."

Lucy didn't bother asking how she knew; she and her spirits were more tightly bound than ever. "Thanks, I guess." She took the makeup and the brush and started working on her knots.

"That dress is very revealing. Is it a special kind of date?"

Lucy's cheeks flared.

"Lucy?" That was Natsu's voice. "Someone in there with you?"

"Oh, is it a date with Master Natsu?" Virgo asked.

"No," Lucy hissed. "It's just Virgo," she said louder.

"Virgo?" The sound of Natsu's feet scuffing over the floor drifted through the door. "Yo, what's going on?" He grabbed the handle and tried it. Lucy, though she was decent, was horrified to see that it opened unhindered.

"Stupid cheap ass hotel," she cussed when Natsu's pink head of hair came into the small room.

He opened his mouth to say something else to Virgo but trailed off when he saw Lucy. His eyes roved shamelessly over her body as if he committed to memory every freckle and curve. Feeling uncomfortable for a whole new reason, Lucy wrapped her arms around her chest; it did little to hide her bosom.

"Get out, Natsu."

Natsu shook himself. "Virgo—"

"You can catch up later," Lucy said. "I'm trying to get dressed."

"You can keep going, I was just going to—"

The tips of Lucy's ears burned. Striding forward, she grabbed Natsu by the shoulder and pushed him out of the bathroom. She closed the door firmly and engaged the lock again. This time when she jiggled the handle it remained closed. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Do you not want Master Natsu to see you like this?"

Lucy found Virgo leaning against the counter. She scowled at the spirit. "I don't want anyone seeing me like this. This guy is going to think I'm easy or something."

"Do you want new garments from the celestial world?" Virgo offered.

Lucy's world slowed. She blinked dully at her spirit. "What?"

"Do you want—"

"I heard you," Lucy spat. She composed herself with some effort. "I just—I didn't think of that."

Virgo beamed. "I'll bring you something for your date."

Lucy nearly said yes. Nearly. "I spent Natsu's money to get this dress."

Virgo paused, body half in and half out of this world. "So you don't want garments?"

"No, no. I do," Lucy clarified. "Just… for other stuff. Not for tonight. But I have nothing, Virgo. No pajamas, no underwear. Once these are done," She snapped her thong for emphasis, "That's it."

"Leave it with me, Princess."

"And," Lucy tacked on. "Could you get Natsu some stuff, too?" He had to be running low on clothes as well.

Virgo bowed and disappeared. Lucy puffed up her cheeks, scolding herself for being so thoughtless. Now they had no money and she was stuck wearing a dress that was going to give Riley the wrong idea. Nothing for it but to smile. She brushed out her hair then gathered it to the side and braided it. Then she used the makeup Virgo gave her and applied a small amount, eyeliner, mascara and cola coloured lipstick, that's all.

Mostly ready, she came into the main room to see Natsu hadn't gone far. He leaned against the wall in the narrow hallway, blocking her path into the other room. He was staring at her again. Lucy remembered waking up next to him the morning before, feeling his body against hers. Blood rushed to her head. That's not what he's thinking.

"Virgo can get us new clothes?" the dragon slayer asked, unintentionally putting Lucy's mind at ease.

"Yeah," she said. "Sorry, Natsu. I didn't think of it before. If I did I wouldn't have bought this."

He sucked on a tooth and nodded. "It's a nice dress."

Lucy shrugged. "I guess."

"Looks good on you." The compliment came a touch too fast. Nervous. As far as Lucy could recall, Natsu Dragneel didn't get nervous. Nor did he give out compliments—not like that. Things have changed. He's changed. The realization hit fast and hard. Shyer than before, Lucy made to sneak past him. He grabbed her wrist and held her still.

"Wait."

He needn't have said anything; she couldn't move even if she wanted to.

"You have…" He was going to mime, then an insane urge came over him. With his heart going too fast, Natsu reached out and touched the corner of Lucy's painted lip, edging the colour back into place like he'd watched Mira do countless times while he sat at Fairy Tail's bar. It was harder than the takeover mage had made it look. Or maybe he was clumsy; his fingers weren't meant for this delicate work. He did what he could, body burning so close to Lucy. When he was done he held his position, her cheek cupped in his hand, afraid to move and break the spell that had her no longer furious with him but breathing in short, shallow pants that tickled when they broke across his skin.

He loved her like this he decided, her lips nearly as dark as her eyes, her skin pale like moonflower. She'd rimmed her eyes with something as black as coal. Now they stood out and sawed through him, a stark contrast to her golden hair. He realized he'd touched it's ends only when it was sliding through his fingers like the finest rolled gold.

His eyes were back on her dress again. The soft fabric wouldn't let him go, taking him all the way down her body, appreciating every dip and swell as if he'd never seen them before. He didn't know what burned him up more, the fact that he loved the way it looked on her, or the fact that he'd bought it for some other guy to enjoy. As soon as the thought came to him he turned it over again and again, deciphering it every way he knew how. Every answer he got at the end of the puzzle revealed the same thing.

He was jealous.

He didn't get jealous. At least, not typically.

"Natsu?"

There was a quiver to Lucy's voice, one that rolled on through him and shook him down to his core.

"Natsu?"

Natsu. He liked the way she said his name. It snagged coming out of her throat, silk on a splinter.

"Don't go tonight, Lucy."

Lucy took a step back and felt the wall beneath her shoulders. Natsu had backed her into a corner quite literally; she wasn't sure when that had happened. He was still looking at her strangely in a way he never had before; he was still touching her. Her lungs fluttered, feeling like there was a bird trapped inside. She couldn't get oxygen to breathe.

"I have to." She didn't know she was still capable of speech. That was being generous, though, her words slipped out a husky whisper.

"Says who?"

"What about that job, Natsu—"

He licked his lips. Lucy's heart squeezed all the more. She could smell the sweetness of his breath after he'd eaten that donut, she could feel the unusual hotness of his skin. She'd been close to the dragon slayer plenty times before, but never like this. Her mind warred, one side saying, 'He's going to kiss me,' the other admonishing the thought with, 'It's Natsu, he never cares about stuff like this.' At least, he never used to.

He came in closer, edging in so his breath mingled with hers. He is, Lucy determined. Definitely. I can't. I can't. If she did and he disappeared again, she'd buckle and give in to those late night thoughts that kept her up for months and months. Yet she couldn't move, either. Closer and closer. His eyes got heavy lidded like he was drunk. Move. Move. Move. His hot breath broke over her lips. She felt dense.

The sound of wings brought the pair jarring apart. When Natsu turned to see what the fuss was, Lucy ducked under his hold and bolted for the door. She didn't bother saying goodbye; hell, she barely remembered to grab her sandals.

The door slammed loudly at her back. Happy, coming to land on the bed, looked at his red faced friend.

"Smooth."

"Shut the hell up, Happy," Natsu muttered.


Riley was waiting outside when Lucy rushed from the motel. Seeing her sandals clutched in her hand and adding that together with her red face he asked, "Is everything alright?"

Lucy made herself breathe and smile, though in her head she was all turmoil. "I'm fine." Every lie she'd ever told herself always seemed to be the same. I'm fine. She ran away from an abusive home. I'm fine. Her father died without her being able to say goodbye. I'm fine. She watched her future self die before her eyes. I'm fine. Aquarius sacrificed herself and now couldn't leave the spirit world. I'm fine. Her friends and the only family she had abandoned her. I'm fine.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes." Lucy fixed her shoes on her feet. "Sorry. I was just running around trying to get ready. I was worried I'd be late."

He nodded, accepting her answer. "You look very… lovely this evening." His eyes clung to her like he thought so, too.

Lucy decided that it was the dress, and when she was done with it, fuck Natsu, it was going in the garbage.


Dinner was had at Magnolia's only restaurant, The Fox and Fiddle. Originally they served bar food, but since the city was destroyed they had been branching out, making more elaborate meals to fill up that niche market. They charged more for it, too.

Riley ordered a steak, Lucy had shrimp quinoa.

When the food came Lucy diligently ate while Riley spoke. He seemed to be able to talk enough for both of them. His food was long cold before he even took the first bite. Given the opportunity, Lucy's mind wandered back to the place where Natsu was pressed against her in a dingy little motel. It was a scary place to be, mostly because she kind of liked being there. She ordered wine. One glass, then two. It didn't help ease her jumbled nerves. What the hell was she going to say to Natsu when she got back? What if he tried to kiss her again? What if you let him? She flushed.

"Are you unwell, Lucy?"

Lucy blinked and realized Riley was looking at her strangely. "Sorry. I'm just distracted."

"By?"

She cleared her throat and palmed her wine glass. "Did you talk with your supervisor?"

Riley eased back in his chair and eyed her up. "I did, actually."

"And?" she asked eagerly.

"He gave his permission. I have to ask again, though, are you sure this is the job for you?"

Lucy's ire caught like fire in dry kindling. Don't freak out. But why the hell was everyone asking if she was okay with the job? Did she not look okay for it?

"I can catch a thief."

Riley nodded. "No offense intended."

Lucy smiled. "It's fine."

"Wonderful." He brushed off his concern easily. "Did you want to go to the Thorn and Thistle, have a few drinks?"

The Thorn and Thistle... That place had caused a lot of strife in her life. It wasn't the bar, she told herself. It was you.

"Come on, Lucy," Riley pushed, "You're too beautiful tonight to just take back to your room, and I'm only going to be here for another few days."

She blushed despite herself.

Encouraged, Riley said, "In the barracks we have this saying, if you're not drinking, you're not playing."

Lucy wavered. She didn't want to go back to her room, not yet; she still didn't know how to treat Natsu.

The sound of buzzing interrupted her decision. Riley's face fell. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a glowing communication lacrima.

"Excuse me."

Lucy waved him on and watched as he stood and crossed to the exit to answer his call. She played with her left over food while she waited, her mind wandering inexorably back to Natsu. Natsu, Natsu, Natsu. The feeling of his thumb touching her lip, his warm hand on her cheek, his mouth millimeters from hers.

Riley reappeared. "I apologize, Lucy. That was my supervisor. There's been an incident that requires all guards to return to the barracks."

"Oh. Is everything alright?"

He smiled. "Forgive me, I cannot say."

Right. Lucy stood, fixing her dress. "That's alright." No, it wasn't: it meant she had to go back to Natsu and try to decide what his actions meant, but sitting here by herself wasn't a better option. It's not, she reasserted when her mind tried to glam up the possibility.

"I'll walk you back; it's on the way."

"Sure."


After Lucy disappeared, Natsu wanted to go out and wander; he felt too restless to sit still, but Happy had been the voice of reason, reminding him that he was still technically a wanted criminal. He nearly didn't care.

"Lucy will be mad if you get arrested."

The cat's reasoning was sound, if not frustrating. "I don't want to stay locked up here forever," Natsu complained.

"It's only for a little while. Just chill out."

So, for the last two hours Natsu shamelessly hung out of the window and watched for Lucy's signature blonde head of hair. The monotony was broken up by the appearance of a pink haired celestial spirit.

"Master Natsu."

Virgo smelled as strange as ever, otherworldly and oddly powerful. "What's up, Virgo?"

The spirit brandished a huge pile of clothing. "For you and Princess."

"Thanks." It would have been nice before Lucy spent all of his money, but hey.

She started to fade again.

"Wait," Natsu called, standing and planting his palms on the table.

Virgo paused. "What is it?"

"Aren't you going to hang out for a bit? I'm so bored."

She shook her head. "I need to be well rested in case Princess needs me. Goodbye."

She disappeared for real this time. Natsu stared at the place she'd been.

"Wanna play Go Fish?" Happy asked.

The dragon slayer shook his head. They'd played the hell out of that game in the last year; he was sick of it. "Nah."

"You shouldn't just sit there and obsess," Happy said.

"I'm not," Natsu replied.

"That's crap. You're mad she went out with that guy."

Natsu threw himself back down in his chair beside the window and propped his cheek on his knuckles. "Why would I be?"

"Because, you want to kiss her like you kissed Lana," Happy chirped.

Natsu glared at him. "She kissed me. And only because she was glad we saved her brother from that monster thing. And she was drunk."

"You're just sore she threw up right after."

That had been unfortunate. At least Lucy didn't give you that treatment. "Just… go find something else to do, Happy."

"What were you two doing when I came in?" the cat asked, dismissing Natsu's suggestion entirely.

"Nothing."

"Didn't look like nothing. Did you actually kiss her?"

Natsu kicked his feet up on the small table by the window and leaned back in his chair, unwilling to play Happy's game any longer. He looked down to the street below and watched the people stroll past. There were less than there'd ever been before; Magnolia was a ghost town. Why did you come back? It's still just a skeleton. It wasn't the first time he'd thought it, but it was the first time he felt like he had to justify himself to that knit picky voice that tried to tear him down. Everything will be better soon. Everything will go back to the way it was. If he said it enough times it might even be true.

By the time Lucy deigned to round the corner, Happy was snoozing on the table and Natsu was very, very close to following him. It was the fear dredged up at the sound of her voice (he'd never kissed a girl and had her run out before; what the hell did that mean?) and the elation that had his adrenaline going, bringing him out of laziness. Both emotions were quickly stamped out by something like anger when he saw Lucy had that stupid guard at her shoulder. Not only was he walking entirely too close, he had Lucy's arm wrapped through his. Lucy's laugh came to Natsu, sounding light and carefree. He'd missed the sound.

"She's back?" Happy asked, coming awake when Natsu sat up properly.

"Yah."

There was a moment where when the pair approached the building's front door that Natsu wondered if Lucy was going to bring the man upstairs. Then she carefully extracted her arm from his. The man leaned in.

Sensing what was coming well before Natsu did, Happy said, "Maybe you shouldn't spy on her, Natsu."

Natsu realized what was happening and couldn't look away. His guts twisted watching that stupid pretty boy come in for her mouth.

"Natsu," Happy said, concern in his voice. He grabbed Natsu's shoulder and tried to push him away from the window.

Natsu brushed him back and was glad a second later. If he had have listened to Happy, he wouldn't have seen Lucy turn her face away so the guard got her cheek instead of her mouth.

"Huh," the cat snorted. "Maybe the date didn't go very good."

Lucy laughed again and said something else; then they separated, going their own ways.

Natsu waited thirty seconds then stood and went to the door, pulling it back just as Lucy was about to unlock it.

She jumped, obviously startled, and shot a furtive look up into his face. "Geeze. You scared me."

"How'd it go?" Natsu asked, not bothering to apologize.

Lucy shuffled in around him, careful not to meet his eye. Her cheeks were as bright as apples. "Really good."

Really good. He ignored the way his stomach wrenched.

"His supervisor said yes, I could have the job, and he said that if it went well he'd consider hiring me back. Apparently they've been having problems all over Magnolia with petty lawbreakers. And Riley says I'll be generously recompensed."

"Huh?"

"Paid," Lucy said. "This is for you and Happy." She held up the box of left overs.

"Thanks." He opened it and looked at the weird beads of food inside. "What the hell is this?"

"Quinoa. It's good for you." Lucy slowly started to relax. This was normal. This Natsu she knew how to handle. "And really, you should thank Riley. He looked at me kinda strange when I bought the largest order they had, but he didn't complain."

It wasn't likely he'd be thanking that guy anytime soon. Using his hands because he had no utensils, Natsu started eating the grain.

"Don't forget you have to share," Happy said. "I smell those shrimp."

Natsu grumbled but held out the container.

Lucy stooped, careful about how high her dress went, and tugged off her sandals. The outside of her toe was sore where it rubbed against the thong. She started pulling out her braid next, working the locks free of their entrapment. "Did Virgo come by yet?"

"Yeah." Natsu pointed to a pile of clothes on the bed. "Left that there. She wouldn't stay though."

Lucy was used to Virgo's abruptness so it didn't surprise her. "Good. I'm going to change and go to bed."

"Well, I'm bored," Natsu complained. "Come out for a walk with us. We can go scope that old folks home."

"I'm so tired," Lucy said. "I'd really rather just go to bed."

"I'll piggyback you. Or Happy can fly you."

"I can?" the cat questioned. "I remember last time. I'm still sore from that."

Lucy gave him her best glare; it helped outpace Natsu's casual offer of intimate contact. She'd rather not think about being that close to him. "No thanks. I'm wiped. You shouldn't be wandering around anyway."

Natsu went to the pile of clothing Virgo brought and picked out a large, comfortable looking hoody. When he donned it and pulled the hood over his head, his face was completely hidden in shadow. "No one's going to know it's me."

Lucy sucked in a breath and held it.

"Come on, Luce. I've been cooped up in here all day."

"What if someone sees you?" she asked.

"They won't."

"But what if they do and you get arrested?" Her voice had developed a whine she wasn't proud of.

"They won't."

He sounded so confident. And remember what Riley said—they weren't actively looking for Natsu anymore. She looked at the dragon slayer's hopeful expression and knew if she kept him cooped up in here any longer he was going to start wrecking stuff. "Fine. But just go for a walk, a small one. Don't pick any fights, don't go looking for trouble." She almost added, 'And don't leave without me,' but managed to hold that one in. "Don't be long."

"You're not going to come?" Natsu asked.

Lucy shook her head. Her feet actually did hurt, and she was actually tired. "I'm just going to clean up and sleep, I think." If she could rest.

He looked crestfallen, but eager enough to get the hell out of there that it didn't hold him back. "Coming, Happy?"

"Aye," the cat agreed.

Lucy watched them leave from the window. Some things were always the same. To keep her wandering thoughts at bay she went rooting through the clothes Virgo left, picking out three dresses, a skirt, a pair of shorts, and four different tops. The last in the pile was a skimpy nighty.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" It was blue and gold, short and silken. "Not appropriate sleepwear." She reached for the spirit, trying to call her back into this world, but Virgo was shockingly (purposefully) absent. She tried again and again, but nothing was doing. Loke flashed through her mind next. Just imagine what he'll choose instead. Grumbling, she went to the washroom, cleaned her face, brushed her hair and changed. The nighty was as small as she feared, clinging even more then her dress.

"Damnit, Virgo." She popped her head out into the room first. Seeing she was still alone, she made a mad dash to the couch, pulling the blankets all the way up to her chin, and curled on her side. Like she suspected, though she was tired, sleep was hard to come by. She kept revisiting that moment in the hallway, with Natsu pressed against her.

It doesn't matter.

She didn't want that kind of thing, especially from a man that was so goddamn flighty. She imagined she'd wake up one morning and he'd just be gone. That's not fair, her mind scolded. Fair or not, it was a real fear.


Under a mat of stars Erza closed her eyes and enjoyed the pulsing feeling low in her belly. The cool mid-summer air played over her skin, raising it in goose bumps. Jellal's fingers might have had something to do with that, too. They traced up her exposed belly, teased under the swell of her breast, then skipped over the sensitive skin there, brushing and pinching and tickling her hard nipple.

Lowly, she murmured, "I thought you were finished?"

Jellal nipped the topmost swell of her breast, unable to help himself. "Yes." His voice came out gravelly. "I should let you get back, before your absence is noted."

Wendy flashed through Erza's mind. "She and Carla are together. We could stay out here a little longer."

"But they'll both be together out here if they wake and notice you're missing." His logic was sound, even if Erza didn't want it to be.

"Come with me."

Jellal kissed her chest over his earlier bite. "You know I can't."

"I know you won't."

His tongue slipped out and lapped over her skin, tracking closer and closer to the tip of her breast. Erza, though annoyed, bowed into his mouth anyway, unable to help herself.

"If I could I would," Jellal whispered.

"There are no more dark guilds," Erza reasoned. "So travel with us."

Jellal sat back and searched her eyes. "What of your reputation?"

"What about it?" she returned.

"Being with me will ruin it. I'm an outlaw."

"I don't care," she said and it was mostly true.

Jellal faltered. "What of Crime Sorciere?"

"Leave them," she said.

"Leave a band of barely moral criminals to wander through Fiore on their own."

Erza bit her lip, feeling selfish, and nodded.

Jellal squeezed her ribs almost painfully hard. "I can't—"

"Please."

He was close to buckling. He wanted to be with her; she saw it. She opened her mouth to beg again. He interrupted. "Fairy Tail is reviving." It looked like it cost him something to say.

Erza blinked. "What?"

"I saw it in the newspaper, and Sorano spoke to her contact at the castle and confirmed it."

Erza's world slowed. Fairy Tail.

"I cannot go with you there."

Erza steeled herself. "If you're saying that to make me leave, it won't work."

"It's the truth," Jellal told her. "The king's castle was defiled by fire, the words "Fairy Tail" scrawled across its walls."

There was only one idiot Erza knew that was brazen enough to do that. It has to be true. But still... "I'm not going back." Everything she wanted was right here. "I'm going to stay with you."

Jellal cocked a dark brow. "That's a lie. You miss Fairy Tail. Besides, would you force Wendy to travel on her own?"

Erza faltered like he knew she would. "Shit."

"Just go, Erza. We'll still see each other. Just less frequently."

"But—"

"But nothing. You love your guild. Go."

"What about—"

He kissed her thoroughly, severing her words. Erza tried to get away to protest. He grabbed her breast again, plucking to distract her. She settled under a blanket of pleasure. His hand wandered south between her legs and the remainder of her protests fizzled into a low, hot moan.