Hello, Everyone! So this update has some important stuff in it, but also a little cute scene. I hope you enjoy :)

*Just so you are all aware, I will now start putting the Review Corners at the end of the chapter.


Gildarts smiled to himself as he knocked twice on the door to his daughter's house. He had been lost in thought since speaking to Grandine. There was no doubt in his mind that the girl that Gray and Lyon found was Layla's daughter and he knew that the only thing to come would be trouble. When Cana opened the door, he pushed everything to the back of his mind.

"Hey, Cana," Gildarts said cheerfully, pulling his daughter into his arms. She struggled for a moment before breaking free. "Oh come on, don't be like that. You know you missed me."

Cana rolled her eyes. "Not a chance, Old Man." She sounded annoyed, but the small smile on her face showed otherwise. "I made dinner, but it isn't ready yet. You can take your stuff upstairs and take a shower if you want."

Gildarts had been in Cana's house a few times before, so he already knew where the guest bedroom was. The house wasn't large. Downstairs there was a small dining room, kitchen, and living room. Upstairs, there were two bedrooms with the only bathroom in the house being in Cana's master bedroom. He took his bag straight into Cana's bathroom and turned on the shower. He looked around the room with a frown.

Gildarts was not an ignorant man. Not only had he been to many women's houses in his life, which allowed him to know the signs of a relationship, he had also seen signs in his own daughter's house. The first thing he ever noticed was a stick of deodorant sitting on the bathroom sink. When he asked Cana about it, she turned bright red and quickly threw it into a drawer. The next time he visited, nearly a year later, it was quite obvious that she was dating someone. There were men's clothing in her hamper, shampoo in the shower, a second seat cleared off at the table, and even a few pictures around. He had never really paid any attention the pictures and didn't tease her about having a boyfriend. That is, until he figured out who it was.

Ur had been livid when she found out.

Now, Gildarts couldn't believe his eyes. In the trashcan, he saw a stick of deodorant, a bottle of shampoo, body wash, and the remains of the pictures that used to be in Cana's bedroom. He almost fell to his knees in shock. He wanted to march up that mountain so badly and yell at Gray, but he knew that Layla would never trust him again. Not only was he currently on an important mission because of that trust, but he was able to annually visit his daughter, if not more than that. He wouldn't waste that chance just to assert his fatherly dominance. Deciding to let the obvious break-up leave his mind for a while, he took a quick shower, changed, then made his way down to the dining room. Entering, he felt his heart skip a beat.

Cana had the lights on but still lit some candles on the table. Place mats were set across from each other, and there was already a serving of baked chicken, salad, and mashed potatoes on each plate. Colorful dishes held the food that had not yet been served in case they wanted seconds. There was a bottle of wine, probably an expensive kind brought home from work, along with two glasses sitting at the other end of the table for later. She had clearly set out her good dishes.

"Cana," he gasped. "What is all this?"

Cana blushed and put her head down as she poured water into their glasses. "I don't get to see you that often," she said simply.

Gildarts slowly walked to his seat at the table and sat down. "Yes, but you've never done anything like this before," he pointed out.

Cana sat down at her own seat. "I guess I have just been thinking about what's important in my life. And you are, so I wanted to show you that."

Gildarts gave her a sad smile. "Is this about Gray?" he asked.

Cana visibly flinched. "How did you know his name?" she asked. He had to have known she was with someone since she never tried to hide it, but she never once said his name.

Gildarts forgot that Cana had never told him Gray's name, but he didn't miss a beat, either. "I knew him when he was a boy," he said. "I haven't seen him in years, but there's no mistaking that messy hair." He truly hadn't seen Gray since he was a boy in person, so that much was true. He wasn't going to mention that he used to see Gray often while he was still a Guardian.

Cana bit her lip. "He broke up with me," she said. "Two years with him and he said that he didn't want things to get to serious. I can't even believe it!" She wiped the tears off of her cheeks. "Sorry, this was supposed to be a nice dinner."

"Cana, no, you aren't ruining anything," Gildarts said, trying to comfort his daughter. He knew exactly where Gray would be coming from with any other girl since he really can't marry anyone that isn't a Guardian. However, with Cana, it is obvious that she doesn't want marriage or children with life. If they were truly together for two years, then Gray should know that.

"I don't believe it," Cana said. "I think there's another girl. I know I've seen Wendy and Romeo, these kids that hang out with Gray, around this blonde girl recently. I think it might be her."

Gildart's eyes widened. If Wendy and Romeo did hang out with Gray, which he already knew was the case because they would eventually become Guardians, then that meant that the blonde girl Grandine was talking about had to be the same as Cana knew of. And, if Cana's guess of Gray leaving her for another girl was correct, then that meant that Gray was with Lucy, which would break many laws.

One question was nagging the back of his mind, though, and he just couldn't think of an answer. Grandine said that Lyon thought Lucy was a Summer Guardian and Gray thought she was a Winter Guardian.

Is that even possible?

X

"So what are we doing in the library?" Erza asked. She ran her fingers along the spines of the ancient books as she walked by the shelves.

"It was just a thought," Ultear began. "I was trying to think about everything leading up to her disappearance."

"Like when you misplace something you retrace your steps?" Erza asked.

"Exactly," Ultear agreed.

The two walked through the large library. The library contained nearly every book ever written, which made the Summer Mansion that much more special. There were books on every topic imaginable, including magic, which was the section the two women were heading towards.

"This library is mostly just all one completely room," Ultear explained. "Most of this castle is divided into Night and Day, but not here. Here, all the books are jumbled together, the only exception being the magic sections. Off to the right here is the Day spells and to the left are the Night spells." She motioned to the right before walking to the left. "Lucy cast Urano Metria, which I remember seeing in a spellbook here."

"You remember one spell out of all these books?" Erza asked. She didn't bother trying to hide her disbelief.

"There is a reason I remembered it," Ultear said. She sighed and shook her head. "I was just so stupid. I should have known as soon as she started reciting the spell! There is one book here that contains forbidden spells. For Night Magic, that is. Layla wanted me to learn each one so I was able to recognize the spells in case someone ever tried to cast it."

"Why would anyone try to?" Erza asked. She sat down at one of the tables. Ultear sat across from her. "I mean, it's not like the Guardians have enemies. The only ones that we could possibly have would be our opposite seasons, but we are very careful to make sure that we don't know each other."

"Except for this generation," Ultear said with an eye roll. The Spring, Winter, and Fall Guardians mainly grew up in the same town, so they all knew each other. Ur had tried very hard to cover up the fact that they all knew each other, since having a whole generation of Guardians missing could cause problems. Ultear had been in that town, as well, but no one spoke of that, especially. Having siblings in the opposite season was much more of an issue than having friends, since the siblings may try to act out for each other. That's why Ultear never asked about her brothers and no one ever told her about them. It was best for everyone to just pretend that they weren't related, they decided. Ultear wasn't even sure if they all even remembered that they were siblings since it hadn't been discussed in so long.

Erza chuckled. "Really, though. Why are there a bunch of Dark Spells?" she asked.

"All of the spellbooks this world contains are in this library, and all of the forbidden ones are in the book Urano Metria came from," Ultear explained. "Even if Guardians don't have enemies, there are some who try to use the spells. My mother found a reason."

"Ur?" Erza gasped. "Why would she want to use the book? And how would she even get it?"

"No Winter Guardian has ever stepped foot inside this castle, let that be known." Ultear took a moment to collect herself. "My mother never told me this story herself, but she had asked that Gildarts tell me it."

"Gildarts Clive? The Fall Guardian before me?" Erza asked.

Ultear nodded. "Not long after my mother became pregnant with Gray, my father disappeared. Mom had made sure that her relationship with my father was kept a secret, but she knew that she had to find him. Fearing that another Guardian took him, she knew that she had to be prepared. She had asked Gildarts to come to this library and write down any useful spell. He brought back Iced Shell and told her that there was one side effect: the caster would lose their life.

"Mom was torn on what to do, I hear. She had debated for days on what to do. She eventually decided that if she needed to do what had to be done, then she better wait until Gray was born. And after he was, she left Gray to the other Winter Guardian's care. Then she left. When she found my father, he was already dead. Apparently he traveled to the next town over to find a gift for my mother for their anniversary, but he was killed in an alley before he could return."

"What did he get her?" Erza asked. She knew that the gift wasn't important to the story, but she was curious.

Ultear smiled faintly. "It was a beautiful cross necklace made of silver with a blue stone in the center."

Erza nodded, knowing exactly what necklace she was talking about because she had seen it around Gray's neck every time she saw him.


Review Corner:

Legally Stupid: This is a really good story. Nice job. I appreciate the work you're putting into this. Thanks a bunch, and I can't wait for the rest of the story.

Gothazon: OMG THE FEELZ WHY

BitterSweet Crazy: I love how Layla and the others are still involved despite not being Guardians anymore. I didn't expect for Jude to have a potential part in this problem, but it could lead to some answers! I doubt if Jude just tells Layla what she wants to know without being difficult, but there's a chance!

ZoeNarutoFairy: I hope everything with Jude goes okay nice chapter by the way I really enjoyed it and I hope u update soon

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